The New Zealand High Commissioner to London, Phil Goff, has been fired after remarks about US President Donald Trump.
At an event in London this week, Goff said efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine were similar to the 1938 agreements which sought to appease Adolf Hitler.
He was quoted as saying: “President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history?”
New Zealand’s foreign minister, Winston Peters, said the comments were “deeply disappointing” and had made Goff’s position “untenable”.
Peters, who also serves as the country’s deputy prime minister, said that Goff’s views did not reflect Wellington’s views.
Goff had previously served in a number of ministerial positions as a member of the Labour Party, which is currently in opposition in New Zealand.
[Image: Paasikivi, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87819581]