The Minister of Foreign Affairs is a major portfolio in the Cabinet of New Zealand.
The position has had a number of different names throughout its history. The term "Minister of External Affairs" was once preferred, but was later changed to "Minister of Foreign Affairs". Since the absorption of responsibility for overseas trade, the official title is now "Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade", although the last part is frequently omitted in normal speech.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for overseeing New Zealand's relations with foreign countries. The Minister is in charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including New Zealand's diplomatic staff.
The present Minister is Phil Goff, who also serves as Minister of Justice. Pete Hodgson and Marian Hobbs serve as Associate Ministers, with Hobbs having special responsibility for foreign aid. Also linked to the portfolio are the separate roles of Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control (held by Hobbs) and Minister for Trade Negotiations (held by Jim Sutton).
Historically, it has been common for Prime Ministers to take on the role of Foreign Minister themselves, particularly if they have an interest in the field. The most recent Prime Minister to do this was Mike Moore, in 1990.
A list of former office-holders (regardless of title) is below, beginning in 1917.
Name | PM served | Took Office | Left Office | Party
|
---|---|---|---|---|
William Massey | (himself) | 1917 | 1919 | Reform
|
James Allen | William Massey | 1919 | 1920 | Reform
|
William Massey, 2nd time | (himself) | 1920 | 1923 | Reform
|
Francis Bell | William Massey | 1923 | 1925 | Reform
|
William Nosworthy | Gordon Coates | 1926 | 1928 | Reform
|
Joseph Ward | (himself) | 1928 | 1930 | United (Liberal)
|
George William Forbes | (himself) | 1930 | 1935 | United (Liberal)
|
Michael Joseph Savage | (himself) | 1935 | 1940 | Labour
|
Frank Langstone | Peter Fraser | 1940 | 1942 | Labour
|
Peter Fraser | (himself) | 1942 | 1949 | Labour
|
Frederick Doidge | Sidney Holland | 1949 | 1951 | National
|
Thomas Webb | Sidney Holland | 1951 | 1954 | National
|
Thomas Macdonald | Sidney Holland, Keith Holyoake | 1954 | 1957 | National
|
Walter Nash | (himself) | 1957 | 1960 | Labour
|
Keith Holyoake | (himself) | 1960 | 1972 | National
|
Jack Marshall | (himself) | 1972 | 1972 | National
|
Norman Kirk | (himself) | 1972 | 1974 | Labour
|
Bill Rowling | (himself) | 1974 | 1975 | Labour
|
Brian Talboys | Robert Muldoon | 1975 | 1981 | National
|
Warren Cooper | Robert Muldoon | 1981 | 1984 | National
|
David Lange | (himself) | 1984 | 1987 | Labour
|
Russell Marshall | David Lange, Geoffrey Palmer | 1987 | 1990 | Labour
|
Mike Moore | (himself) | 1990 | 1990 | Labour
|
Don McKinnon | Jim Bolger, Jenny Shipley | 1990 | 1999 | National
|
Phil Goff | Helen Clark | 1999 | (present) | Labour
|