In a newly launched case studies page in our Educating for Asia section, principals, teachers and students from a diverse range of schools discuss efforts to foster Asia awareness. Participating schools include Auckland Normal Intermediate School, Owairaka District School , also in Auckland, Te Aro Primary School in Wellington and Riccarton High School, Christchurch.

Intersections: Southeast Asia and diaspora engagement provides an overview of the Southeast Asian diasporas in New Zealand and of the New Zealand diaspora in Southeast Asia. The report argues that these two communities represent a growing impetus for closer links with Southeast Asia. The report was launched by Asia:NZ executive director Dr Richard Grant in Singapore on 14 December.

South Korea and New Zealand enter into the third round of FTA negotiations next week. Seoul based freelance reporter Andrew Salmon assesses the prospects of an agreement and concludes that, from a South Korean perspective, a deal with may prosper if New Zealand takes a largely unthreatening stance. "In Korean eyes, New Zealand’s smallness could be its beauty," he explains.

Asia:NZ recently led a delegation to Track II meetings in Delhi and Kuala Lumpur. The New Zealanders arrived in Delhi on 6 December and held an inaugural meeting with the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, a world-recognised Indian think-tank. Papers presented by the delegation in Delhi are now online. The delegation then moved on to Kuala Lumpur to attend the second meeting of the ASEAN/Australia/New Zealand Track II dialogue.

Dominion Post web editor Patrick Crewdson travelled to Shanghai in October and November 2009 with the support of Asia:NZ. He reports back on his time in a city of endless energy. "Shanghai is the most intense city I’ve ever visited – even more so than Manhattan," he explains.  "On the streets the Shanghainese and the city’s millions of migrants are all hustling, striving to get ahead, and most of the time trying to sell you something."

A residency opportunity of up to two and a half months for young professionals in artistic/creative fields is offered as part of the JENESYS programme, administered by the Japan Foundation in partnership with Asia:NZ. Available for a period from mid April until June 2010, it will be based in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Read more and apply