You asked about... Chogm

What's Chogm?
It's the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, held every two years, where leaders from 53 countries discuss matters of common interest. This year's Chogm takes place this weekend in Valletta, Malta, chaired by Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

What will be discussed?
A range of topics, including trade, development, governance, combating terrorism and promoting tolerance.

The host government traditionally selects a topic to discuss and Maltese officials have chosen information and communications technology. The theme this year is "Networking the Commonwealth for Development".

What is on New Zealand's "to do" list?
Prime Minister Helen Clark this week singled out trade, security and religious tolerance as important issues. She will also urge all World Trade Organisation members to work towards trade liberalisation before its ministerial meeting in Hong Kong in December.

"The Commonwealth gives New Zealand access to many nations and regions with which we have few other active links. For us it is a window on the world of the Caribbean; much of South Asia and the Indian Ocean; and West, East and Southern Africa."

Will the Foreign Minister be there?
Winston Peters is in Malta now, taking part in the inaugural Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting as a part of the new Commonwealth governance arrangements. The foreign ministers from the 53 Commonwealth countries, who represent nearly a third of the world's population, have the same agenda as the leaders' forum this weekend.

Why have a Chogm?
It's not unusual for states that belong to a group to meet and try to establish mutually beneficial ties.

Commonwealth leaders have met regularly since 1944, but Chogm wasn't officially established until 1971. Hosting rights are shared around among member states. It was last held in New Zealand in 1995, in Auckland.

To keep things lively, the Queen, as head of the Commonwealth, traditionally makes an appearance.

Is Chogm worthwhile?
Wikipedia has the humorous acronym: Chappies Holidaying On Government Money.

In the past, Chogms have discussed how to deal with apartheid rule in South Africa, military coups in Pakistan and Fiji and allegations of electoral fraud in Zimbabwe. But the meetings have also been targeted.

A bomb killed three people and injured seven others outside the Hilton Hotel in Sydney in 1978. Though not officially a Chogm, the hotel was hosting a meeting of 12 Asia-Pacific Commonwealth leaders.

In 2001, Chogm was cancelled for security reasons in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. It was eventually rescheduled for the following March.

At Chogm 2003, Amnesty International joined other protesters in a campaign on issues relating to abuses of human rights, especially in Nigeria and Zimbabwe.