Hiroshima Prefecture trustee Reiko Fukutake presented a $60,000 donation to the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Otago.
New Zealand was one of the most peaceful nations in the world so other countries would listen to graduates from the centre, which was a ''pillar of peace'' in New Zealand, Ms Fukutake said.
The donations from the Global Future Charitable Trust include this week's initial $60,000 donation, another $120,000 next year and donations of $180,000 in the third and fourth year, a total of $540,000.
Prof Clements said the generous gift would ''recruit and retain'' students to be effective future peace and justice workers.
A PhD scholarship fund would be made available for post graduate research within the centre, he said.
