New Zealand sacks its high commissioner to UK for questioning Trump's command of history

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - New Zealand sacked its high commissioner to the UK over his public remarks that questioned US President Donald Trump's command of history.

Announcing the decision, New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters told reporters at the parliament building that the decision to sack Phil Goff was "one of the most difficult things I have had to do," Radio New Zealand reported on Thursday.

He said Goff's position as high commissioner to the UK is "untenable," following his public comments.

Speaking at a Chatham House event, Goff, along with Finland's foreign minister, discussed how Finland kept the peace on its border with Russia.

"I was re-reading (Winston) 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?" he went on to say.

Defending the sacking, New Zealand's top diplomat said: "If he (Goff) had made that comment about Germany, France, Tonga, or Samoa, I'd have been forced to act."

"It's seriously regrettable and one of the most difficult things one has had to do in his whole career," he added.

"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," Peters explained while justifying the decision.

Goff, a former leader of the Labour Party and former mayor of Auckland, has been serving as high commissioner in the UK since January 2023.