Books

In the early 1930s New Zealanders experienced the economic and social impacts of the worldwide economic depressions colloquially known as the ‘Slump'. Many saw only the local effects, but members of the Institute placed them in an international context. Their concerns were reflected in the first book put out by the Institute, which was entitled Contemporary New Zealand. Published in 1938, it was edited, and largely written, by three members – A D (later Sir Alister) McIntosh, G R (later Sir Guy) Powles and W B Sutch.

Professor F L W Wood took a more historical approach, in his contribution to the series of books published to mark New Zealand's Centennial in 1940. His first book was entitled New Zealand in the World. Later he wrote, for the War Histories series, The New Zealand People At War: Political and External Affairs. Though not published by the NZIIA itself, these two books owed much to discussions at the Institute's meetings. They quickly became key documents in the study of New Zealand's external relations.

Among the papers published by the Institute after World War II was one written by Guy Powles entitled Must We Trust Japan? Another was New Zealand's Interests and Policies in the Far East by R G Latham.

The Research Committee has expanded the Institute's publications programme in recent years. New Zealand in World Affairs Volume III, 1972-1990, was launched by the Governor-General, Sir Michael Hardie Boys, in December 1999. The NZIIA's imprint on books is a recognised identity and sought after. The publication programme is an important part of the Institute's work.