Matt Thoume

Occasional 🇬🇧 diplomat. Personal views. Formerly posted to @ukinpakistan 🇵🇰 & @UKUN_NewYork 🇺🇳 & @UK4Afghanistan 🇦🇫

[Matt Thoume @mthoume]

After 15 years at the Foreign Office, incl:

3️⃣ overseas postings 🇦🇫🇺🇳🇵🇰
2️⃣ adopted cats 🐱🐱
1️⃣ amazing wife 💍
🔁 countless brilliant colleagues 🌎

…it’s time for a break.

For the next few years I’ll be cheering @FCDOGovUK from the sidelines as I support @IonaCThomas in 🇳🇿

[Winston Peters @NewZealandMFA]

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.

🇬🇧 🤝 🇳🇿

@IonaCThomas

[UK in New Zealand @UKinNZ]

A Scottish welcome on Maungawhau/Mount Eden for @D_G_Alexander, Secretary of State for Scotland.

🇳🇿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Here in NZ to attend the @EdinburghTattoo marking its first-ever performance in Auckland during its 75th anniversary year.

[Iona Thomas OBE 🇬🇧 @IonaCThomas]

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.

🇵🇳 🌊 🐠 🦈 🐳

[Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office @FCDOGovUK]

Merry Christmas from everyone at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office🎄

[The Royal Family @RoyalFamily]

A message from The King to the people of Australia following the antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach.

[Iona Thomas OBE 🇬🇧 @IonaCThomas]

Great to see Winston Peters in London for important conversations about the UK-NZ relationship. 🇬🇧🇳🇿

[Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 @DefenceHQ]

Today, Defence Secretary @JohnHealey_MP and New Zealand Defence Minister @JudithCollinsMP reaffirmed our historic partnership. 🇬🇧🇳🇿

Together, we are deepening our friendship and working side by side to keep our nations safe in an uncertain world.

[Iona Thomas OBE 🇬🇧 @IonaCThomas]

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.

[Hon Judith Collins KC @JudithCollinsKC]

Visited this morning by Andy Start, the UK’s 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
🇳🇿🇬🇧

[Iona Thomas OBE 🇬🇧 @IonaCThomas]

Joint statement from the UK, NZ and others calling for humanitarian assistance in Gaza and an immediate end to the conflict. 🇬🇧 🇳🇿

[Winston Peters @NewZealandMFA]

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

🇦🇺 🇳🇿 🇬🇧 🇮🇹 🇩🇪

Statement: https://t.co/mVIPd2fs7B

[UK in New Zealand @UKinNZ]

The UK 🇬🇧 and NZ 🇳🇿 have signed the #TIDES agreement — 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. 🌏
#ClimateFinance

[Iona Thomas OBE 🇬🇧 @IonaCThomas]

Great to catch up with Finance Minister @NicolaWillisMP today to discuss increasing investment, economic growth & uptake of the UK-NZ Free Trade Agreement 🇬🇧 🇳🇿 📈

[Iona Thomas OBE 🇬🇧 @IonaCThomas]

Wonderful to join 🇬🇧 High Commissions & Embassies across the world this week in hosting the annual King’s Birthday Party! 🎂

This year we celebrated in Christchurch & shone a spotlight on the shared aspirations & connections between the next generation of Kiwis & Brits 🇳🇿 🇬🇧

[Iona Thomas OBE 🇬🇧 @IonaCThomas]

Wonderful to host UK Trade Envoy Carolyn Harris MP on her first visit to New Zealand this week. Together we met:

🇬🇧 firms building 🇳🇿 infrastructure 🏗️
🇳🇿 tech companies growing in 🇬🇧📱
🇬🇧 agritech experts at Fieldays 🚜 🌾

…and had a quick chat with the PM too!

🇬🇧 🇳🇿 📈

[Winston Peters @NewZealandMFA]

Speaking at the 6th Pacific-France Summit, Minister Peters said: “Working alongside likeminded partners like France is important and we recognise France’s long-standing commitment to the Pacific and the contribution it makes to regional stability.”

🗣️: https://t.co/vKU69sI3Zg

[UK at the UN 🇬🇧🇺🇳 @UKUN_NewYork]

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.

[Iona Thomas OBE 🇬🇧 @IonaCThomas]

This week @mariaeaglemp Minister for Defence Procurement & Industry visited NZ to discuss our collaboration & how UK defence companies can support NZ’s security.

From Indo-Pacific security to closer defence cooperation, the UK-NZ partnership is going from strength to strength.

[Hon Judith Collins KC @JudithCollinsKC]

Excellent meeting with UK Minister of Defence Procurement & Industry Maria Eagle & with ⁦@IonaCThomas⁩. ⁦@ChrisPenknz⁩ & I were delighted to meet with a minister from one of our closest defence friends. #BetterTogether

[Iona Thomas OBE 🇬🇧 @IonaCThomas]

The @EdinburghTattoo is coming to Auckland! 🇳🇿 🥁

It was a pleasure to join @JudithCollinsMP & @MayorWayneBrown last week to celebrate a 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 cultural icon coming to @edenparknz in February 2026.

Find out more here: https://t.co/7KS4rP6tea