This history is an account of Southeast Asia New Zealand relations as they have emerged since the end of World War II Drawing together the most prominent scholars of New Zealand s relations with Southeast Asia this study examines the overall military multilateral and commercial relationships and those that assess individual bilateral relationships and diplomatic controversies Southeast Asia remains a region of considerable importance for New Zealand and has remained so through the course of decolonization internal instability external security Cold War tensions peacekeeping efforts rapidly expanding economic growth and crisis and increasingly transitional security challenges such as terrorism