It is active in developing export opportunities for local companies, and in 2008 negotiated a free trade agreement with China. It used to sponsor the Centre for Strategic Studies New Zealand in conjunction with other NZ Government ministries, though the Centre is now part of Victoria University of Wellington. NZAID The New Zealand overseas development aid agency New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) was a semi-autonomous agency within the ministry, until it was brought back into the ministry as the International Development Group (IDG). It is a major provider of aid to the Pacific. Ministers The Ministry serves 4 portfolios, 4 ministers and an associate minister. Organisational structure The Ministry has 653 staff based in Wellington and 661 staff overseas, with consulates and embassies in 53 posts worldwide. Secretaries of Foreign Affairs and Trade Sir Alister McIntosh (1942–1966) Sir George Laking (1967–1972) Frank Corner (1973–1980) Merwyn Norrish (1980–1988) Graham Ansell (1989–1993) Richard Nottage (1993–1998) Neil Walter (1999-2002) Simon Murdoch (2002–2009) John Allen (2009–2014) Brook Barrington (2015–2019) Chris Seed (2019–present) See also Foreign relations of New Zealand List of diplomatic missions of New Zealand List of Ambassadors and High Commissioners to and from New Zealand as of 24 July 2006 List of high commissioners of New Zealand to the United Kingdom References Further reading An eye, an ear and a voice: 50 years in New Zealand’s external relations edited by Malcolm Templeton (1993, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington NZ) Undiplomatic Dialogue: Letters between Carl Berendsen and Alister McIntosh 1943-1952 edited by Ian McGibbon (1993, Auckland University Press, Auckland NZ) Unofficial Channels: Letters between Alister McIntosh and Foss Shanahan, George Laking and Frank Corner 1946-1966 edited by Ian McGibbon (1999, Victoria University Press, Wellington NZ) External links NZ Embassy finder Foreign relations of New Zealand New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of