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Although we have tried to use plain English content on the site, you may come across specialist terms and acronyms. Find out what they mean in our glossary of terms.
If you come across a term that isn't included in the Glossary please send us an email.
PACDAC is a statutory body set up under the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act 1987. The committee comprises the Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control, as Chair, and eight members appointed for a three year term by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In addition to the Minister, the committee currently comprises Hon Deborah Morris-Travers, Dr Jim Veitch, Alyn Ware, Graham Fortune, Richard Northey, Mary Wareham, Bishop Richard Randerson and Dr David Capie. The term for the current committee will expire in 2010.
The functions of the committee, as set out in the Act, are to advise the Minister of Foreign Affairs on disarmament and arms control issues, advise the Prime Minister on the implementation of the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone Act, publish reports on these issues and make recommendations on grants from funds established to promote greater public understanding of disarmament and arms control. These funds are the Peace and Disarmament Education Trust (PADET) and the Disarmament Education UN Implementation Fund (DEUNIF). PADET and DEUNIF are administered by the Department of Internal Affairs.
The Fund was established by the French and New Zealand Governments in 1991 to promote friendly relations, in the wake of the Rainbow Warrior affair. The Fund’s capital sits in an account in Paris and is administered by a Joint Board comprising three members in each country (a Chair plus two). Groups or individuals apply to either the French or New Zealand side for funding, and the Joint Board meets annually in alternating capitals to approve projects. Both countries have agreed to wind down the Fund by 2021 through a gradual drawdown of the capital.
Priority is normally given to projects which are “visible” and which have a strong people-to-people content, and to those which contain an element of exchange between the two countries. The main aim is to promote friendship between New Zealand and French citizens, especially young people. Each year some of the approved funding subsidises school exchange trips between New Zealand and France (and the French Pacific territories). The majority of the other approved projects are related to the arts, although there have also been some in the educational, culinary, business and sporting spheres. The next meeting of the NZFFF Joint Board will be in mid-2009.
Fulbright New Zealand administers a range of awards for New Zealanders and Americans wanting to study in the other country, including the Fulbright Programme and Ian Axford and Harkness Fellowships. It was established in 1948 to promote international understanding through educational and cultural exchanges between New Zealand and the United States. The Fulbright programme enhances New Zealand’s profile in the US and strengthens the US constituency for the relationship.
The Fulbright Board consists of twelve members – six New Zealand citizens appointed by the Government and six United States’ citizens appointed by the US Ambassador. Board members are appointed for a three-year renewable term. The current Board members on the New Zealand side include: Barbara Johnson (Chair), Jock Phillips (Treasurer), Stephen Jacobi (Deputy Chair). The Secretary of Education and Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, or their nominees, are ex officio members. The Board is currently considering recommendations to the Minister to fill Government-appointed vacancies created by the recent departure of Charles Royal and Ruth Harley (former Chair), and the upcoming departure of Jock Philips.
