Terence O'Brien

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For the British diplomat, see Terence John O'Brien

Terence O'Brien (b. 1936) is a former New Zealand diplomat who lead New Zealand in 1993 to a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Terence O'Brien
Terence O'Brien in Moscow

Born	6 January 1936 (1936-01-06) (age 72) Aylesbury, United Kingdom
Nationality	New Zealand
Profession	Former New Zealand Ambassador

1 Early life
2 Career
3 Later Years and Controversies
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Early life

Terence Christopher O'Brien was born in Aylesbury in the United Kingdom in January 1936. His father was a pilot in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and so in his early years they moved around a lot. In 1940 during the peak of the Battle of Britain the family moved to New Zealand by boat, dodging German U-boats along the way, where his father took up a post as Chief Air Instructor to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during the Second World War. Shortly after the end of the war, he returned to the United Kingdom to school at Beaumont and later University College at Oxford University where he read history. However, following graduation he returned to New Zealand, a country with which he had developed a great affinity in his early years, and he joined the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1959.

[edit] Career

O'Brien held early postings as a New Zealand diplomat in the 1960s in Bangkok, London, and Brussels. It was in Brussels that as a first secretary he helped New Zealand to negotiate a special deal with the European Community for access for New Zealand dairy products to Europe at the time that the United Kingdom joined the European Community in 1972. Terence O'Brien then served as High Commissioner to the Cook Islands (1975-77), Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva (1980-83), Ambassador to the European Community in Brussels (1983-86) and finally Ambassador to the United Nations in New York (1990-93). While in New York, his leadership was a critical factor in securing a seat on the United Nations Security Council, where New Zealand beat more favored candidates Spain and Sweden. Nicknamed by the New Zealand press on several occasions Chardonnay O'Brien for his love of a good glass of wine and a good cocktail party, O'Brien is known for his global view and his passionate articulation of New Zealand as an independent and free thinking country with its own values and way of doing things. O'Brien has always believed that small countries like New Zealand need to use and support international institutions such as the United Nations to promote common and universal values and have influence in international affairs. Following his return to New Zealand in 1993, he has remained been widely quoted and sought after in the New Zealand media and press for his foreign policy views and ideas.

[edit] Later Years and Controversies

In 1993, following his return to New Zealand O'Brien was appointed Founding Director of the New Zealand Centre for Strategic Studies^[1] He served as Director for almost 8 years until his retirement in 2001, earning the new institution a respected reputation and high public profile. Controversy surrounded his replacement in 2002 by David Dickens, a former Ministry of Defence official. The Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade investigated the matter and issued a critical report.

O'Brien was a New Zealand diplomat with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for over 40 years from 1959 - 2001. He successfully lobbied to get New Zealand on the United Nations Security Council in 1993 beating favored candidates Spain and Sweden. He was President of the United Nations Security Council during the time of the war in Yugoslavia.

There was also some controversy at the time of his return to New Zealand in mid-1993 over the fact that it was reported falsely in the Press that at the United Nations he had upset both the British Ambassador David Hugh Alexander Hannay and the French Ambassador over comments made about the war in Yugoslavia and therefore was being withdrawn.^{[citation needed]} This was untrue. O'Brien's only comment to the media at the time was "No Comment!".^{[citation needed]}

O'Brien has always advocated that New Zealand pursue an independent foreign policy unencumbered by bias towards countries such as the United States.^{[citation needed]} His outspokenness has won him both admirers and critics.

O'Brien continues as an Advisor to the Centre for Strategic Studies and remains sought after by media and commentators for his foreign policy views and advice.