 Established in 1993 following a perceived need to examine New Zealand's international relations and situation more closely, the Centre has had four directors.Terence O'Brien, who was a former New Zealand diplomat with a career as New Zealand Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, the European Commission in Brussels, and the United Nations in New York, was appointed as Director when the Centre was first established.From 1993–2001 when O'Brien was the Director, the Centre was most active.