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Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand)
New Zealand minister of the Crown
New Zealand minister of the Crown
| Field | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| post | Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| flag | Flag of New Zealand.svg | |
| flagcaption | Flag of New Zealand | |
| insignia | [[File:Coat of arms of New Zealand.svg | 120px]] |
| insigniacaption | Coat of Arms of New Zealand | |
| image | Winston_Peters_2024_US_Deputy_Secretary_visit_(further_crop).jpg | |
| incumbent | Winston Peters | |
| incumbentsince | 27 November 2023 | |
| department | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade | |
| style | The Honourable | |
| member_of | * Cabinet of New Zealand | |
| reports_to | Prime Minister of New Zealand | |
| appointer | Governor-General of New Zealand | |
| termlength | At His Majesty's pleasure | |
| formation | 24 November 1919 | |
| inaugural | James Allen | |
| salary | $288,900 | |
| website | www.beehive.govt.nz |
- Executive Council
The minister of foreign affairs, also known as the foreign minister, is a senior minister in the New Zealand Government heading the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and responsible for relations with foreign countries.
The current minister of foreign affairs is Winston Peters.
Responsibilities and powers
The minister of foreign affairs is responsible for overseeing New Zealand's relations with foreign countries and the promotion of New Zealand's interests abroad. The minister is in charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including New Zealand's diplomatic staff. The office is often considered to be one of the more distinguished ministerial posts, and has at times been counted as the most senior role below that of the prime minister. In terms of actual political power, however, the minister of foreign affairs is not as prominent as in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, with the minister of finance being considerably more influential.
History
The first New Zealand foreign minister was James Allen, appointed to the post of Minister of External Affairs by William Massey in 1919. Before this time, there was no dedicated ministerial portfolio for foreign relations. A Department of External Affairs was created in 1919 but its functions were limited to administering New Zealand's Island Territories in the Pacific; namely the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, and the League of Nations Mandate of Samoa. In 1943, a new Department of External Affairs was created to conduct the country's external relations. The older department was then renamed the Department of Island Territories and a separate portfolio called the Minister of Island Territories was subsequently created.
From 1943, the minister of external affairs became the main ministerial portfolio for conducting New Zealand's external relations. Like its similarly named Australian and Canadian counterparts, the portfolio was called "External Affairs" rather than "Foreign Affairs" in deference of the British Government's responsibility for conducting foreign policy on behalf of the British Empire and later the Commonwealth of Nations. The title was changed to Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1970 after the Department was renamed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1993, the portfolio was merged with the trade portfolio (except for trade negotiations, which were a separate responsibility) as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In 2005, responsibility for trade was returned to a separate portfolio and the title of "Minister of Foreign Affairs" was restored.
The minister of foreign affairs is usually a senior member of the Cabinet. The portfolio has been held by 13 prime ministers, including Peter Fraser, Walter Nash, Keith Holyoake, David Lange and Mike Moore, and has been assigned to the deputy prime minister on four occasions. Only once has the foreign minister sat outside of Cabinet (Winston Peters between 2005 and 2008).
New Zealand has had 29 foreign ministers (regardless of exact title). The longest-serving was Keith Holyoake, who held the post for the duration of his 11-year premiership. The second longest-serving, and the longest-serving who was not also prime minister, was Don McKinnon, who later became Commonwealth Secretary-General.
List of ministers of foreign affairs
;Key
| No. | Name | Portrait | Term of office | Prime Minister | Reform Party (New Zealand)}}" | 1 | Reform Party (New Zealand)}}" | 2 | Reform Party (New Zealand)}}" | 3 | Reform Party (New Zealand)}}" | 4 | Reform Party (New Zealand)}}" | 5 | United Party (New Zealand)}}" | 6 | United Party (New Zealand)}}" | 7 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | 8 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | 9 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | 10 | New Zealand National Party}}" | 11 | New Zealand National Party}}" | 12 | New Zealand National Party}}" | 13 | New Zealand National Party}}" | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | 14 | New Zealand National Party}}" | 15 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | 16 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | 17 | New Zealand National Party}}" | 18 | New Zealand National Party}}" | 19 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | 20 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | 21 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | 22 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | New Zealand National Party}}" | 23 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | 24 | New Zealand First}}" | 25 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | New Zealand National Party}}" | 26 | New Zealand National Party}}" | New Zealand National Party}};" | 27 | New Zealand First}}" | (25) | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | 28 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | 29 | New Zealand First}}" | (25) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Allen | [[File:James Allen portrait.jpg | 75px]] | 24 November 1919 | 28 April 1920 | Reform Party (New Zealand)}}" | Massey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ernest Lee | [[File:Ernest Lee.jpg | 75px]] | 17 May 1920 | 13 January 1923 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Francis Bell | [[File:Francis Bell.jpg | 75px]] | 7 June 1923 | 18 January 1926 | Reform Party (New Zealand)}}" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reform Party (New Zealand)}}" | Bell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reform Party (New Zealand)}}" | Coates | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| William Nosworthy | [[File:William Nosworthy.jpg | 75px]] | 24 May 1926 | 24 August 1928 | Reform Party (New Zealand)}}" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gordon Coates | [[File:Joseph Gordon Coates, 1931.jpg | 75px]] | 25 August 1928 | 10 December 1928 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph Ward | [[File:Joseph Ward c. 1906.jpg | 75px]] | 10 December 1928 | 28 May 1930 | United Party (New Zealand)}}" | Ward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| George Forbes | [[File:George William Forbes.jpg | 75px]] | 28 May 1930 | 6 December 1935 | United Party (New Zealand)}}" | Forbes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael Joseph Savage | [[File:Michael Joseph Savage Portrait (cropped).jpg | 75px]] | 6 December 1935 | 27 March 1940† | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | Savage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Frank Langstone | [[File:Frank Langstone.jpg | 75px]] | 1 April 1940 | 21 December 1942 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | Fraser | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Fraser | [[File:Peter Fraser.jpg | 75px]] | 7 July 1943 | 13 December 1949 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Frederick Doidge | [[File:Frederick Doidge.jpg | 75px]] | 13 December 1949 | 19 September 1951 | New Zealand National Party}}" | Holland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clifton Webb | [[File:Clifton Webb.jpg | 75px]] | 19 September 1951 | 26 November 1954 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tom Macdonald | [[File:Thomas Lachlan Macdonald.jpg | 75px]] | 26 November 1954 | 12 December 1957 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Zealand National Party}}" | Holyoake | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Walter Nash | [[File:Walter Nash (ca 1940s).jpg | 75px]] | 12 December 1957 | 12 December 1960 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | Nash | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Keith Holyoake | [[File:Keith Holyoake, 1972.jpg | 75px]] | 12 December 1960 | 8 December 1972 | New Zealand National Party}}" | Holyoake | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Zealand National Party}}" | Marshall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Norman Kirk | [[File:Norman Kirk, crop.jpg | 75px]] | 8 December 1972 | 31 August 1974 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | Kirk | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bill Rowling | [[File:Bill Rowling, 1974 (crop).jpg | 75px]] | 6 September 1974 | 12 December 1975 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | Rowling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brian Talboys | [[File:Brian Talboys, 1980.jpg | 75px]] | 12 December 1975 | 11 December 1981 | New Zealand National Party}}" | Muldoon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warren Cooper | [[File:Warren Cooper 1983.jpg | 75px]] | 11 December 1981 | 26 July 1984 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David Lange | [[File:David Lange (cropped).jpg | 75px]] | 26 July 1984 | 24 August 1987 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | Lange | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Russell Marshall | [[File:Russell Marshall.jpg | 75px]] | 24 August 1987 | 9 February 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Zealand Labour Party}}" | Palmer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mike Moore | [[File:Mike Moore, 1992 (crop).jpg | 75px]] | 9 February 1990 | 2 November 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Zealand Labour Party}}" | Moore | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Don McKinnon | [[File:Don McKinnon 2012.jpg | 75px]] | 2 November 1990 | 10 December 1999 | New Zealand National Party}}" | Bolger | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Zealand National Party}}" | Shipley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Phil Goff | [[File:Phil Goff, 2003.jpg | 75px]] | 10 December 1999 | 19 October 2005 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | Clark | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Winston Peters | [[File:WinstonPetersEuropa.jpg | 75px]] | 19 October 2005 | 29 August 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Helen Clark | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acting Minister | [[File:Helen Clark UNDP 2010.jpg | 75px]] | 29 August 2008 | 19 November 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Murray McCully | [[File:Murray McCully November 2016.jpg | 75px]] | 19 November 2008 | 2 May 2017 | New Zealand National Party}};" | Key | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Zealand National Party}};" | English | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gerry Brownlee | [[File:Gerry Brownlee 2017.jpg | 75px]] | 2 May 2017 | 26 October 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Winston Peters | [[File:Winston Peters, 2019.jpg | 75px]] | 26 October 2017 | 6 November 2020 | New Zealand Labour Party}}" | Ardern | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nanaia Mahuta | [[File:Hon Nanaia Mahuta.jpg | 75px]] | 6 November 2020 | 11 November 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Zealand Labour Party}}" | Hipkins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grant Robertson | [[File:Hon Grant Robertson (cropped).jpg | 75px]] | 11 November 2023 | 27 November 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Winston Peters | [[File:Winston_Peters_2024_US_Deputy_Secretary_visit_(further_crop).jpg | 75px]] | 27 November 2023 | present | New Zealand National Party}}" | Luxon |
References
References
- "Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances Determination 2016 (2016/252)".
- "Caretaker govt arrangements extended amid coalition talks".
- "Ministerial Portfolio: Foreign Affairs". The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
- "External Affairs Bill", in ''New Zealand Parliamentary Debates'', Vol. 185 (3 October–5 November 1919), p. 337.
- [[Malcolm Templeton]], ''An Eye, an Ear, and a Voice: 50 years in New Zealand's External Relations, 1943–1993'', p. 1.
- Malcolm Templeton, ed., ''An Eye, An Ear, And a Voice'', pp.1–2.
- Alan Watt, "The Department of Foreign Affairs," in ''The Times Survey of Foreign Ministries of the World'', Department of External Affairs (1921–70) ed. Zara Steiner (London: Times Books Limited, 1982), p. 35; James Eary, "The Department of External Affairs," in ''The Times Survey of Foreign Ministries of the World'', p. 96.
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