Latin America CAPE Director Matthew O'Meagher (right) with (r-l) Argentinian Ambassador Fausto Lopez Crozet, members of the Jaguares rugby team, and Taranaki Whānui elder Neville Baker. A note from our Director Bridging countries and cultures isn’t all fun and games – but sometimes it can be! This past weekend, the Latin America CAPE introduced Argentinian dance to rugby fans and young players in Wellington around the visiting Jaguares' match with the Hurricanes. The photos and videos on our website are well worth checking out. We'd also like to extend a warm bienvenido to the new Ambassador of Peru to New Zealand, Javier Prado Miranda. At the same time, we'd like to express our solidarity with the people of Peru and wishes for a speedy recovery following the recent earthquake in the north of the country. On the business front,we are about to launch another year of the Market Insights Programme (MIP), a joint initiative with the other CAPEs. Following the success of the 2018 MIP in Hamilton and Wellington, this year we're working to include businesses in Auckland, and focus on all three CAPE regions. Furthermore, we're delighted to announce an exciting event we are involved in: the Southern Link Conference, outlined below. This update also includes a summary of our numerous education initiatives with the University of Waikato, where Chris Henderson has been busy on both sides of the Pacific. Other highlights of this newsletter range from connecting New Zealand with people in Colombia, to a Victoria University of Wellington academic's role in bringing a slice of Chile and Latin America to Wellington. Finally, we’d like to express our support for two outcomes of the recent APEC Trade Ministers meeting in Chile: New Zealand’s decision to join Chile and Singapore in talks on a Digital Economy Partnership, and the statement of all APEC Trade Ministers outlining their priorities for 2019. The Latin America CAPE has a number of projects that align with these declarations and you will read about them in our future updates. - Dr Matthew O'Meagher, Latin America CAPE Director CAPEs launch nationwide 2019 Market Insights ProgrammeExciting news for anyone interested in the potential-filled markets of North Asia, Southeast Asia and Latin America! The North Asia, Southeast Asia and Latin America Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence (CAPEs) are joining forces to offer the nationwide 2019 Market Insights Programme (MIP). The MIP is a project-based, guided internship programme that harnesses the market and culture-specific insights of domestic and international tertiary students and matches these to the needs of New Zealand businesses. The CAPEs are seeking NZ tertiary students, businesses and expert partners to take part in our 2019 MIP programme. Find out more and register your interest before 7th June 2019 by clicking the link below. CAPEs in the ClassroomSince the establishment of the Latin America CAPE, the University of Waikato has sought to understand what works best for building teachers’ Latin America knowledge and country specific capabilities. Chris Henderson, Associate Director of International Education and Development, discusses our upcoming school engagement activities here. Wellington wowed by Argentinian sport and danceA traditional malambo dance, tango, and a stellar rugby match - Argentina got Wellingtonians' attention last week, thanks to the Latin America CAPE and the Embassy of Argentina. Click below for videos and more! New Zealand's Developing Connections to Colombia In our previous Update, our Project Coordinator Lucy O’Neill reported on insights into Kiwi business success in Colombia when visiting there in January 2019. In this follow-up piece, she reports on other connections she sees between New Zealand and Colombia. Académicos en acción: Dr Marcela Palomino-SchalschaWe’re delighted to feature Dr Marcela Palomino-Schalscha as part of a new series on academics from New Zealand universities and how they apply their research in the Latin American and global contexts. Click the link below to read about her experiences across Chile and New Zealand. Colombian artist brings 'unpredictable' workshop to WellingtonAs part of his work as Creative New Zealand's 2019 International Artist-in-Residence, Colombian Nicolás Paris lead a free workshop for tertiary students at the Victoria University of Wellington's Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, based around a collective map-building exercise. The Latin America CAPE worked with Nicolás on his research visit to New Zealand in December. Check out the link below for more events with Nicolás and the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery.Events & AnnouncementsBuilding the Southern Link Conference Are you interested in learning more about New Zealand's place in China's Belt and Road Initiative, and how that can involve South America? The "Building the Southern Link Conference" will bring together international experts and key stakeholders to discuss the Southern Link, a concept that visualises New Zealand as a major connection point between China and South America. As the first conference on the subject, it aims to establish a coalition of interested commercial and other partners to progress the Southern Link. We'll keep you updated about the Latin America CAPE's involvement with this conference, including working with Loreto Leyton, Executive Director for the Chilean Pacific Foundation. Click the link below to register for the conference and for more information about the Southern Link initiative. |