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Conte, Alex --- "Preface" [2004] NZYbkIntLaw 1; (2004) 1 New Zealand Yearbook of International Law i

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PREFACE BY THE GENERAL EDITOR

The establishment of this inaugural issue of what will be an annual publication, the New Zealand Yearbook of International Law, has been an exciting and most rewarding exercise. I am particularly indebted to the members of the University of Canterbury International Law Group and international law academics throughout New Zealand for their support and encouragement and to the contributors to this first volume.

It has been the intention of the Editorial Board to create a publication that will serve as a valuable tool in the determination of trends, state practice and policies in the development of international law in New Zealand, the Southern Ocean and Antarctica and to generate scholarship in those fields. Having said this, we have been conscious to include articles and commentaries that encompass broader issues. New Zealand, as a relatively isolated nation, is mindful and must remain mindful of wider international law and policy developments that may either directly or indirectly impact upon the area. Equally so, New Zealand offers a unique environment, due to its size, population and strategic proximity to the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, that makes the New Zealand Yearbook of general interest to the international community. It is for the latter reason that the Yearbook contains a section dedicated to the Southern Ocean and Antarctica that includes commentary on both the annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resource Meeting. It is intended that, in time, a section dedicated to Pacific Island States will also be included.

Returning to thanks, I should make special mention of the Editorial Board, Neil Boister, Geoff Leane, Michelle Rogan-Finnemore and Barbara von Tigerstrom, who have all made significant contributions to the establishment of this publication and editorship of this first volume. We are grateful to contributors and to members of the Advisory Board, particularly those that generously gave of their time to act as referees and provide other assistance. Thanks to the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly Legal Division Director Nigel Fyfe, and Julian Ludbrook, John Adank, Trevor Hughes and Sarah Paterson. A special vote of thanks must be directed to Mark Gobbi, from New Zealand’s Parliamentary Counsel’s Office, who has provided an invaluable contribution through his excellent and very thorough review of treaty action and treaty implementation by the executive, parliament and judiciary. My thanks also to the assistance of the student editor Megan Alexinas, who has been tireless in her pursuit of high standards of editorship, and to David Rowe who has assisted with various information technology matters.

Thanks must also be given to the School of Law at the University of Canterbury, who provided seed funding for this inaugural issue.

Alex Conte

General Editor