New Zealand and Indonesian scientists are at the forefront of research into real life “Hobbit”-sized people who lived in Indonesia in the past.  People in Wellington can go to New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa on Saturday 1 December for the unique chance to see and hear from New Zealand and Indonesian scientists about the remarkable discovery of this new human species, Homo floresiensis.

Minister of Civil Defence & Emergency Management Hon Chris Tremain and MCDEM Director John Hamilton were in Yogyakarta last week to attend the 5th Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.

Defence Minister Chris Tremain will travel to Indonesia next week to attend the Fifth Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.

The conference is being hosted by the National Agency for Disaster Management of Indonesia and supported by the United National International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

“Nothing tested New Zealand’s disaster management framework like the Christchurch earthquake on 22 February 2011,” says Mr Tremain.

Foreign Affairs Minister Hon Murray McCully today attended a 10th anniversary commemorative service for the victims of the 12 October 2002 Bali bombings.