The NZUS Council is hosting our inaugural Media Fellowship winner, Pete McKenzie, for a series of fireside chats across New Zealand. The second of these engaging conversations took place at the historic Clock Tower of The University of Auckland in partnership with the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA), drawing an audience of 50 participants eager to discuss the evolving relationship between New Zealand and the United States.
The event was expertly moderated by Professor Rouben Azizian, Chair of NZIIA Auckland.
Earlier this year, through the Fellowship programme, Pete had a unique opportunity to visit the United States to engage with a diverse group of leaders in the public and private sectors. His experience provided him with valuable insights, which he shared with the audience, highlighting the progress made in the New Zealand-United States partnership.
Drawing on his experience in reporting stories from around the Pacific, Pete also discussed some of the risks and opportunities facing the region such as strategic competition between the USA and China, the role of other players in the region, the impacts of colonialism, controversy around seabed mining and the valuable role trade agreements can play in shoring up regional security.
As global challenges continue to evolve, fostering strong international relationships is more important than ever. The discussions underscored the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation to further our shared goals.