British High Commissioner To New Zealand Appointed Director Of Multilateral Affairs At The UK Foreign Office

The British High Commissioner to New Zealand, Iona Thomas OBE, will conclude her posting in April to take up a new role as Director of Multilateral affairs at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in London.

During her tenure in Wellington, the High Commissioner has led a period of significant momentum in the bilateral relationship. This has included deepening defence and security cooperation, implementation of the UK–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, expanding climate and science partnerships, and strengthening people-to-people links across business, academia, sport and culture.

Under her leadership, the British High Commission has supported closer collaboration on Indo-Pacific security, enhanced interoperability between UK and New Zealand forces, and built stronger connections between defence industries and supply chains. Trade between the two countries has continued to grow following entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement and CPTPP, with businesses on both sides benefiting from reduced barriers and expanded market access.

Reflecting on her time in New Zealand, the High Commissioner said:

“It has been an honour to serve as the United Kingdom’s High Commissioner to New Zealand. Our two countries share a deep friendship grounded in history, values, and trust. But what has stood out most to me is how forward looking our partnership is.

“New Zealand and the UK are working together in practical ways that strengthen both our security and our prosperity. I leave confident that the UK–New Zealand relationship is in excellent shape, which the UK Prime Minister recently described as being the best it has ever been.

“I have enjoyed being based in Wellington, but I will particularly miss the opportunities I had to visit the regions of New Zealand and meet the people, from community leaders and students to business owners who collectively told the story of how our two nations work together to make a brighter future."

As Director of Multilateral Affairs at the FCDO, the High Commissioner will oversee the UK’s engagement across key international institutions and multilateral forums, helping to advance British foreign policy priorities on global security, development and rules-based cooperation.

Arrangements regarding the appointment of her successor will be announced in due course.

© Scoop Media