News, events and opportunities

4 May - Polish Business Delegation from Poznań

In this special event co-hosted by the Europe Institute and Piotr Bieganski at the POLANZ - Polish-New Zealand Business Association, we explored the dynamics of European-New Zealand business relations through the lens of technological change.

The visit was short, but the conversations were rich. This is exactly what the Europe Institute is here for: building bridges, asking new questions, and imagining shared futures. We look forward to what may grow from the seeds planted through these conversations.

Dr Peter Zámborský, Europe Institute advisory board member, journal editor, and International Business Disciplinary Area Lead, set the scene: Poland as Europe's rising economic power, Poznań's journey from foreign investment hub to home of electric buses and supercomputing, and the real, concrete opportunities for NZ-Polish technological and business collaboration. His key message? New Zealand may be a small market, but for focused Polish SMEs it offers more than enough opportunity, and the two countries share more cultural common ground than most expect.

The delegation itself was a testament to Polish innovation, with companies spanning advanced metalworking (2 Handle), IT and nanoparticle research (4NC), vacuum systems for space (APVACUUM), maritime logistics AI (Astroid PSA), industrial automation and robotics (Cube Systems), fuel and liquid installations (eN-TANK), ecological green architecture (Garden Spot Int.), precision metrology and Industry 4.0 (ITA), space and defence IT systems (ITTI), hydrogen technologies (Polish Hydrogen Chamber), structural design for astronomy and medicine (Robotic Zone), and astronomical instrumentation (Sky Robot Factory).
We were also honoured by the presence of Lawrence Meredith, EU Ambassador to New Zealand, a meaningful signal of the importance of these relationships.

1 April - Research Ethics and Ethics Review in the Social Sciences and Humanities: Current Challenges in Europe

In this seminar, Professor Hella von Unger explored current challenges in research ethics and ethics review in the Social Sciences and Humanities across Europe. Drawing on findings from the EU-funded CHANGER project, she gave an enlightening overview of how evolving research practices, digital environments, and participatory methods are reshaping ethical governance.

11 February – EU-NZ relations, H.E. Lawrence Meredith, the Ambassador of the European Union to New Zealand

A presentation by the Ambassador on EU - NZ relations at the University of Auckland on Wednesday 11 February. 

24 October – European Union – New Zealand Business Summit

We were delighted to participate in the first European Union–New Zealand Business Summit in Auckland. It was a vibrant gathering of business and political leaders from across Europe, Aotearoa New Zealand, and the wider region. Nearly 500 participants came together over the day, with sessions and conversations spanning agriculture and agritech, infrastructure and investment, clean tech and renewables, deep technology and AI, aerospace and defence, sustainability, and the Māori economy.
Read more about the event here. 

23 October – Bringing New Zealand and Central & Eastern Europe Closer Together – Northern Club Event

The Europe Institute participated at an event hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Wellington and the Polish Investment & Trade Agency. Here, we, together with officials, companies and institutions representing Central and Eastern Europe, we learned about existing and developing trade opportunities between New Zealand and Poland, Hungary, Romania and the Slovak Republic.

1 October – Europe-NZ Business Chambers Dialogue: Curious about global business opportunities?

We were joined by representatives from the German, French, Dutch, and Scandinavian Chambers of Commerce, and invited University of Auckland students to:

• Explore how these international chambers shape international trade and cooperation
• Gain insights into career pathways that combine business, language, and culture
• Build their network with professionals who work at the intersection of commerce and diplomacy

21 August: From Weimar to the World: The Legacy of Bauhaus

A Talk by Severin Soder: Discussion on the Bauhaus’s holistic philosophy, its key figures, transformative nature and global reverberations.

Here we got to hear about the story of the German art school, that was a cultural movement trying to reshape the relationship between art, design and everyday life. Severin Soder discussed the Bauhaus’s holistic philosophy, its key figures, transformative nature and global reverberations.

Co-hosted by the Auckland Goethe Society and the Europe Institute. 

7 November – Crafting and Implementing Impact Narratives: Lessons from Horizon Europe Research Programmes. Professor Anne-Laure Mention, RMIT University, Australia

Funders are increasingly seeking an impact narrative in grant applications. This trend is prevalent, especially in Horizon Europe funding. This seminar is built upon my diverse European Union (EU) projects' experience around building and implementing an impact mindset in research programmes. These EU projects shape a very different mindset regarding how research is crafted and implemented. These projects present fertile grounds for turning impact narratives into realities. Considering New Zealand's association as a partner country to the EU for funding purposes, the learning I gained from these projects would be highly relevant for those interested in collaborating with EU-based colleagues to apply for Horizon Europe funding.

Co-hosted by the University of Auckland Business School and the Europe Institute.

15 October – Fall of the Berlin Wall: 35 Years On

November 2024 marked the 35th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the peaceful revolution in East Germany. To commemorate and reflect on this event, New Zealand filmmaker Tony Forster, who was an eyewitness of the unfolding events in Berlin in the autumn of 1989, showed us excerpts of his documentary film “An Accidental Berliner” and talked to us about his impressions of two German states reuniting after 40 years of separation.

Co-hosted by the Auckland Goethe Society and the Europe Institute
 

30 September – What happens after a landmark climate case in the European Court of Human Rights?

The 2024 KlimaSeniorinnen judgment was celebrated as a historic first, but it was met with allegations of judicial activism by the respondent government. In this talk, Dr Corina Heri discussed how we can understand – and counter – such backlash.

Co-hosted by the NZ Centre for Environmental Lawand the Europe Institute. 

Hot topic: Disinformation and how to combat it: A European Perspective

16 May 2023

Kevin O’Connell (EU Delegation); Simona Fabrizi (University of Auckland)

Measuring and managing universities in the UK and Europe: Perverse incentives and changing ecology of higher education

20 April 2023

Cris Shore

Another democratic future is possible on innovations in democracy

29 March 2023

Claudia Chwalisz (DemocracyNext), Jon Alexander, with Max Rashbrooke (questions)

REPowerEU: Affordable, secure and sustainable energy for Europe

26 October 2022

Hot Topic Seminar

Speakers: Caroline Lambert (Head of Trade, EU Delegation), Dr Jen Purdie (Otago University)

Sponsored by EU Europe Aid Grant

Address of the Ukraine Ambassador to NZ Vasyl Myroshnychenko “Cooperation is crucial”

16 August 2022

Co-hosted with NZIIA chair: Hamish McDougall, NZIIA

Discussant: Dr Tatjana Buklijas, Europe Institute

Sustainable Trade and Climate Change in the New Zealand – EU Free Trade Agreement

12 May 2022

Hot Topic Seminar

Organised by: Associate Professor Maureen Benson-Rea

Speakers: Caroline Lambert (Head of Trade, EU Delegation), Brett Longley (Senior Policy Analyst, MFAT), Professor Caroline Foster (Law, University of Auckland)

Sponsored by EU Europe Aid Grant

Beyond the Sound-bites: Contextualising the Russian invasion of Ukraine

18 March 2022

Hot Topic Seminar

Organised by: Prof. Bernadette Luciano

Speakers: Prof. Gordon Morrell (Nipissing University), Prof. Snejina Michailova (University of Auckland), Prof. Natalia Chaban (Canterbury), HE Nina Obermaier (EU Ambassador to NZ), Mr Taha Macpherson (Divisional Manager Europe, MFAT)

Indo-Pacific Cooperation and Security

November 2021

Hot Topic Seminar

Speakers: HE Ms Nina Obermaier (EU Ambassador), Ms Pip McLachlan (Principal Advisor to MFAT for Asia and the Americas), Assoc. Prof. Yvonne Underhill-Sem (University of Auckland), Prof. Andreas Neef (University of Auckland)

Chair: Dr Jamie Gillen (Global Studies)

Co-hosted by: Global Studies

Business Culture in Europe

21 October 2021

The Europe Institute’s Dr Stefano Riela judged the 'Business Culture in Europe' annual best video competition. Over 100 New Zealand and Czech students created videos about business culture in EU countries. Watch all the videos here.

Second place went to New Zealand team Angela Liu, Cedric Pasco, Evan Nahill, Finn Bawden, and Lily Kang for their video on Latvia’s business culture. See their video entry.

With thanks to the Europe Institute’s Dr Peter Zámborský for coordinating the competition in cooperation with Masaryk University and to the EU for their support.

What we remember? What we forget? Monuments, memorials and public space

9 July 2021

Hot Topic Seminar

Speakers: Dr Tiopira McDowell (University of Auckland), Dr Felicity Barnes (University of Auckland), Assoc. Prof Giacomo Lichtner (Victoria University of Wellington), Assoc. Prof. Sally Hill (Victoria University of Wellington)

Chair: Dr Sara Buttsworth (University of Auckland)

Supported by EU EuropeAid grant

Will global economic integration be the same after COVID-19?

8 June 2021

Hot Topic Seminar

Speakers: Dr Peter Zámborský (Business, University of Auckland), Mr Niels Meinderts (MFAT), Stephanie Honey (Trade Policy Consultant)

Chair: Dr Stefano Riela (Europe Institute)

Co-hosted by Public Policy Institute

Supported by EU EuropeAid grant

H.E. Fernando Curcio, Spain’s Ambassador to New Zealand ‘The EU and Spain’

6 May 2021

Co-hosted by: NZ Institute for International Affairs

Chair: Prof. José Colmeiro (University of Auckland)

The EU-NZ Free Trade Agreement: What are the stakes?

6 May 2021

Hot Topic Seminar

Speakers: Ms Caroline Lambert (EU Delegation to NZ), Mr Ed Isaac (MFAT), Mr Frank Olsson (NZ Europe Business Council)

Moderation: Dr An Hertogen (Europe Institute)

H.E. Stefan Krawielicki, Germany’s Ambassador to New Zealand, ‘Change of Perspective – Sharing Experiences’

28 April 2021

Co-hosted by: NZ Institute for International Affairs

Chair: Mr Gregory Thwaite (NZIIA)

The Black Death and its Effects

29 March 2021

Public Lecture

Speaker: Dr Karen Jillings (Massey University)

Chair: Prof. Maartje Abbenhuis (Europe Institute)