Winston Peters sacks Phil Goff as UK High Commissioner

Thursday, 6 March 2025

Foreign Minister Winston Peters says sacking Phil Goff was “one of the most difficult things” he has done, after Goff made “seriously regrettable” remarks about US President Donald Trump.

Peters declared Goff’s position as High Commissioner to London was “untenable” after the former Labour leader questioned Trump’s understanding of history at an event in London.

In response to questions from The Post on Thursday morning, Peters effectively fired Goff, demonstrating the Government’s sensitivity to any commentary that it views as unprofessional from its officials, for risk it may damage New Zealand’s interests by offending Trump and his new administration.

However, by the afternoon, Peters suggested he would have been forced to sack Goff regardless of whether the remarks were made about “Germany, France, Tonga, or Samoa”.

“I worked with Phil Goff and known him for a long time. I worked in Government with him. It's just one of those seriously disappointing decisions one has to make.

“When you are in that position you represent the Government and the policies of the day, you're not able to free-think, you are the face of New Zealand.”

At a public event held by Chatham House in London on March 4 (GMT), broadcast on the organisation’s website, Goff asked a question during a public Q&A session of Finland’s foreign minister Elina Valtonen, who was speaking about how Finland kept the peace on Nato’s longest border with Russia.

'I was re-reading Churchill's speech to the House of Commons in 1938 after the Munich Agreement, and he turned to Chamberlain, he said, ‘You had the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour, yet you will have war’,” Goff said.

“President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history?”

When approached by The Post for comment on the remarks, Peters, through a spokesperson, said that he had learned of the comments this morning, and that Goff would no longer be able to continue as New Zealand’s High Commissioner of London.

“Phil Goff’s comments are deeply disappointing,” Peters said.

“They do not represent the views of the NZ Government and make his position as High Commissioner to London untenable.

“We have asked the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bede Corry, to now work through with Mr Goff the upcoming leadership transition at the New Zealand High Commission in London.”

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said it “is in discussion with High Commissioner Goff about his return to New Zealand. We have no further comment at this time.”

The Goff comments - and the speedy reaction from Peters - take place against a backdrop of increased tension and sensitivity around public remarks relating to the Trump administration, which has demonstrated its willingness to punish and bully partners and allies over perceived slights.

For Peters, who is thought to be travelling to Washington in the coming weeks, the remarks come at a particularly inopportune and sensitive time.

New Zealand officials have also been working to establish a good rapport with Trump officials, as the president threatens agricultural tariffs in the coming month – which could damage New Zealand’s export sector.

Goff’s remarks are not his first gaffe while in the post. While hosting an event for a New Zealand delegation visiting London for the coronation of King Charles in May 2023, Goff offended the Māori King, Kīngi Tūheitia, by saying no-one in the room would have experienced a coronation before.

A spokesperson for Kīngi Tūheitia, who died in August, confronted Goff about the remark, saying for some in the room it would be the third coronation – after that of Tūheitia and his mother, the late Māori Queen.

Goff was appointed by then Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta to the position in 2022.

Goff ‘overstepped the mark’

Although former prime minister Helen Clark posted on social media it looked like “a very thin excuse for sacking a highly respected former NZ foreign minister”, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said, “If a politician had said those comments, I don’t think anyone would particularly bat an eyelid, but Phil Goff is currently a diplomat, and so there is a different standard for diplomats”.

“I think Winston Peters is entitled to make it clear to Phil Goff that you know, he thinks he went too far and overstepped, whether that reaches the threshold for a dismissal, ultimately that’s a call for Winston Peters to make”. Hipkins said the comment “certainly overstepped the mark … I don’t think they were wise comments for Phil to make.”

Hipkins, though, said Goff had had “a distinguished career, in service of the New Zealand public, it’s a very difficult transition to go from being a politician every day to being a diplomat”.

He regarded Goff as a good friend. “I’m sorry it’s come to this. Phil is an exceptional New Zealander who I think has devoted his life to making New Zealand a better place.”

Sacking over Trump ‘not new’

Waikato University international law professor Al Gillespie said the sacking of ambassadors that are critical of Trump was “not new”.

“It happened during Trump’s first presidency, with the UK ambassador to the US, Kim Darrock. In that case, it was actually comments in private, critical of Trump, that had him removed,” he said.

“This type of step is taken to maintain good-faith between countries with their negotiations.

“Peter’s sacking Goff is slightly different. Goff’s comments were in a semi-public place.”

Gillespie said diplomats were not given a “vast array of privileges” under international law in order to represent their own views. Instead, they were to be politically neutral and deal with matters in a “sensitive and tactful way”.

“Even though Goff is 100% correct in his discussion around Munich in 1938, his linkage to Trump was walking into incredibly sensitive territory.”

He said the Government had been avoiding any criticism of Trump, and Goff’s firing would show the Government does not tolerate “any dissent from our officials”.