For Sir Peter Maire, Director of Fusion Electronics, Asia has been an important part of his life and the business success of his former company, Navman, and the other high-tech companies he has been involved in. “Its a big part of who I am and part of my business,” said the Auckland-based entrepreneur and investor to an audience of exporters and importers in Auckland on 6 October 2009. Read more.

Senior Lecturer Dr Tanya Ogilvie-White from the University of Canterbury was this year’s recipient of the Asia:NZ Conference Support grant. The grant help fund a recent workshop held in August: “Preparing for nuclear expansion in Southeast Asia: Frameworks for effective cooperation and enhanced security”.Read her report.

Read the first blog post from Lisa Onland, who recently began journalism degree in Hong Kong with the support of Asia:NZ. Massey journalism graduate Marika Hill reports on her stint at the Phnom Penh Post on an Asia:NZ-supported internship in June and July 2009. Note also upcoming deadlines for internships in Manila, Singapore and Hong Kong as well as our inaugural Kiwi Asian journalism scholarship - details on our media opportunities page.

A delegation of New Zealand academics and former diplomats travelled to meetings in mid-September with counterpart ‘think tank’ organisations in China and Japan. Applications were invited from young leaders to travel as part of the high-level delegation as an observer. Simon Gray, a student of international relations at the University of Waikato, was selected and reported back to Asia:NZ Online on the trip.

The national winner of the Asia:NZ/Cathay Pacific Diwali Short Story competition was announced as Saran Hardman from Glen Eden in Auckland. Saran wins a trip for two to India. The competition received an overwhelming response from across New Zealand. Saran’s story, entitled Cattle Love , was the pick of the 200-plus entries of exceptional standard. Diwali celebrations continue in Wellington this weekend 17 and 18 October.

On Wednesday 30 September, 27 enthusiastic children fought the bleak weather to take part in a day-long arts workshop called Di-fusion. Also, we're once again organising an extensive programme of competitions and performances to engage schools with our flagship Lantern Festival celebrations. They take place in Auckland next February and Christchurch next March 2010 and educators can register their interest here.

An exciting exhibition by Dunedin-based artist Kushana Bush takes place in the Arts Centre Christchurch until 25 October. The artwork takes inspiration from her recent residency in South Korea. Kushana was the inaugural recipient of the Asia:NZ/Arts Centre of Christchurch residency exchange and was based at the Changdong Art Studio in Seoul for two months.Read more