After 15 years at the Foreign Office, incl:
3๏ธโฃ overseas postings ๐ฆ๐ซ๐บ๐ณ๐ต๐ฐ
2๏ธโฃ adopted cats ๐ฑ๐ฑ
1๏ธโฃ amazing wife ๐
๐ countless brilliant colleagues ๐
โฆitโs time for a break.
For the next few years Iโll be cheering @FCDOGovUK from the sidelines as I support @IonaCThomas in ๐ณ๐ฟ
The Minister met today to farewell outgoing British High Commissioner Iona Thomas.
High Commissioner Thomas reflected on the highlights of her posting in New Zealand, which has included two visits by the Minister to the UK for consultations with his British counterparts. The Minister noted the benefit of strengthening our historically deep NZ-UK relations in an increasingly unstable world.
๐ฌ๐ง ๐ค ๐ณ๐ฟ
@IonaCThomas
A Scottish welcome on Maungawhau/Mount Eden for @D_G_Alexander, Secretary of State for Scotland.
๐ณ๐ฟ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Here in NZ to attend the @EdinburghTattoo marking its first-ever performance in Auckland during its 75th anniversary year.
As Governor, I send my best wishes to the community on Pitcairn Island as they celebrate Bounty Day.
One of the most remote UK Overseas Territories, the island is surrounded by a pristine Marine Protected Area safeguarding our oceans & marine wildlife.
๐ต๐ณ ๐ ๐ ๐ฆ ๐ณ
Today, Defence Secretary @JohnHealey_MP and New Zealand Defence Minister @JudithCollinsMP reaffirmed our historic partnership. ๐ฌ๐ง๐ณ๐ฟ
Together, we are deepening our friendship and working side by side to keep our nations safe in an uncertain world.
Great to see the new Home Secretary @ShabanaMahmood meeting @JudithCollinsMP in London. An opportunity to discuss the close UK-NZ partnership & our work to keep both countries safe and secure.
Visited this morning by Andy Start, the UKโs first National Armaments Director & Co-Chair of the Defence Suppliers Forum Executive.
Always good to meet with our UK colleagues and talk defence, defence industry & the rules-based order. Joined by UK High Commissioner @IonaCThomas .
#BetterTogether
๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฌ๐ง
The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have released a joint statement on Gaza.
@SenatorWong@DavidLammy@AussenMinDE@Antonio_Tajani
๐ฆ๐บ ๐ณ๐ฟ ๐ฌ๐ง ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฉ๐ช
Statement: https://t.co/mVIPd2fs7B
The UK ๐ฌ๐ง and NZ ๐ณ๐ฟ have signed the #TIDES agreement โ backing clean energy access across the Pacific.
A $24m initiative, TIDES brings public & private finance together to help Pacific nations shift from fossil fuels to renewables.
Partnership in action. ๐
#ClimateFinance
Great to catch up with Finance Minister @NicolaWillisMP today to discuss increasing investment, economic growth & uptake of the UK-NZ Free Trade Agreement ๐ฌ๐ง ๐ณ๐ฟ ๐
Wonderful to join ๐ฌ๐ง High Commissions & Embassies across the world this week in hosting the annual Kingโs Birthday Party! ๐
This year we celebrated in Christchurch & shone a spotlight on the shared aspirations & connections between the next generation of Kiwis & Brits ๐ณ๐ฟ ๐ฌ๐ง
Wonderful to host UK Trade Envoy Carolyn Harris MP on her first visit to New Zealand this week. Together we met:
๐ฌ๐ง firms building ๐ณ๐ฟ infrastructure ๐๏ธ
๐ณ๐ฟ tech companies growing in ๐ฌ๐ง๐ฑ
๐ฌ๐ง agritech experts at Fieldays ๐ ๐พ
โฆand had a quick chat with the PM too!
๐ฌ๐ง ๐ณ๐ฟ ๐
Speaking at the 6th Pacific-France Summit, Minister Peters said: โWorking alongside likeminded partners like France is important and we recognise Franceโs long-standing commitment to the Pacific and the contribution it makes to regional stability.โ
๐ฃ๏ธ: https://t.co/vKU69sI3Zg
Today we thank @UN Peacekeepers for their service and sacrifice.
Since 1948, 2 million people have served with @UNPeacekeeping to protect civilians and build lasting peace.
@BritishArmy offers specialist training to those deploying as blue helmets including women peacekeepers.
This week @mariaeaglemp Minister for Defence Procurement & Industry visited NZ to discuss our collaboration & how UK defence companies can support NZโs security.
From Indo-Pacific security to closer defence cooperation, the UK-NZ partnership is going from strength to strength.
Excellent meeting with UK Minister of Defence Procurement & Industry Maria Eagle & with โฆ@IonaCThomasโฉ. โฆ@ChrisPenknzโฉ & I were delighted to meet with a minister from one of our closest defence friends. #BetterTogether
The @EdinburghTattoo is coming to Auckland! ๐ณ๐ฟ ๐ฅ
It was a pleasure to join @JudithCollinsMP & @MayorWayneBrown last week to celebrate a ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ cultural icon coming to @edenparknz in February 2026.
Find out more here: https://t.co/7KS4rP6tea