List of high commissioners of New Zealand to the United Kingdom

The High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom is New Zealand's foremost diplomatic representative in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and in charge of New Zealand's diplomatic mission in the United Kingdom.

Sir Jerry Mateparae, current high commissioner

History

The High Commission of New Zealand is located in London, the United Kingdom's capital city. New Zealand has maintained a resident high commissioner in the United Kingdom since 1905, and a resident Agent-General since 1871. The high commissioner to the United Kingdom is concurrently accredited as Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland and High Commissioner to Nigeria.

As New Zealand was created as a part of the British Empire, its diplomatic relationship with the United Kingdom is its longest-standing; the position of high commissioner in London pre-dates New Zealand's dominion status by two years, the Balfour Declaration of 1926 by 21 years, and the adoption of the Statute of Westminster of 1931 by 42 years. New Zealand appointed a high commissioner to Canada in 1942, and a high commissioner to Australia in 1943.

As fellow members of the Commonwealth of Nations, diplomatic relations between New Zealand and the United Kingdom are at governmental level, rather than between Heads of State, with member countries exchanging high commissioners, rather than ambassadors.

List of heads of mission

The following individuals have held the office:[1]

No. Name Portrait Term of office Monarch
1 Hon. Dr Isaac Earl Featherston March 1871 September 1876 Victoria
2 Rt Hon. Sir Julius Vogel September 1876 December 1880
3 Hon. Sir Dillon Bell December 1880 September 1891
4 Sir Westby Perceval September 1891 December 1895
5 Hon. William Pember Reeves December 1895 December 1908
Edward VII
6 Hon. Sir William Hall-Jones December 1908 August 1912
George V
7 Rt Hon. Sir Thomas Mackenzie August 1912 August 1920
8 Hon. Sir James Allen August 1920 January 1926
9 Hon. Sir James Parr January 1926 1930
10 Hon. Sir Thomas Wilford 1930 1935
(9) Hon. Sir James Parr 1935 September 1936
Edward VIII
11 Rt Hon. Sir Bill Jordan September 1936 September 1951
George VI
12 Hon. Sir Frederick Doidge September 1951 January 1955
Elizabeth II
13 Hon. Sir Clifton Webb January 1955 April 1958
- Dr Richard Mitchelson Campbell
(acting)
 April 1958 September 1958
- George Laking
      (acting)		 September 1958 March 1961
14 Hon. Sir Thomas Macdonald March 1961 May 1968
15 Sir Denis Blundell May 1968 August 1972
- Merwyn Norrish
      (acting)		 August 1972 15 March 1973
16 Hon. Sir Terry McCombs 15 March 1973 22 March 1975
17 Rt Hon. Hugh Watt 22 March 1975 21 June 1976
18 Hon. Sir Douglas Carter 21 June 1976 16 July 1979
19 Hon. Les Gandar 16 July 1979 27 September 1982
20 Hon. Bill Young 27 September 1982 21 February 1985
21 Hon. Joe Walding 21 February 1985 5 June 1985†
22 Bryce Harland 15 October 1985 3 June 1991
23 Hon. George Gair 3 June 1991 April 1994
24 John Collinge April 1994 1 May 1997
25 Richard Grant 1 May 1997 1999
26 Rt Hon. Paul East 4 January 1999 4 January 2002
27 Hon. Russell Marshall 4 January 2002 4 January 2005
28 Rt Hon. Jonathan Hunt 2005 2008
29 Derek Leask March 2008 February 2013
30 Rt Hon. Sir Lockwood Smith 25 March 2013 24 March 2017
31 Rt Hon. Sir Jerry Mateparae 24 March 2017 April 2020
when he will be replaced by Bede Corry

See also

References
  1. "Heads of Missions List: U". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 8 July 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2006.
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