I would like to acknowledge the strong support that this project has received from the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA), especially its former research committee chair, Bruce Brown, who played a leading role in guiding this project through. I am grateful too for the support given to this volume by the Institute's Director, Brian Lynch, and the current research committee chair, Associate Professor Rod Alley. I would also like to thank Historical Research Grants Advisory Group of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), particularly its successive chairs, Ian Kennedy and James Kember, for the necessary funding for aspects of this project. Appreciation also goes to John Mills at MFAT for his efforts in locating primary archives for the authors in this volume. Thanks also go to Triena Ong, Head of the Publications Unit at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, for the publication of this project.

The various authors that have contributed to this volume have done so in their personal capacities. The views expressed in each chapter are the personal judgements of the authors, and, in the case of those in government employment, do not represent any official government views.

The chapters in this volume are written from New Zealand's point of view. Most chapters have made extensive use of archival files kept by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Unless otherwise noted, file numbers found in the notation refer to these archives. It should be noted that MFAT has undergone several name changes over the years: Department of External Affairs, 1949 to 1969; Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1970 to 1987; Ministry of External Relations and Trade, 1988 to 1991; and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 1992 to the present time. All figures given in this volume are in New Zealand dollars unless otherwise stated. Some earlier figures are given in New Zealand pounds as New Zealand did not adopt the decimal currency system until 10 July 1967.