The High Commissioner from New Zealand to the United Kingdom is New Zealand's foremost diplomatic representative

Diplomat

A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...

 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and in charge of New Zealand's diplomatic mission

Diplomatic mission

A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...

 in the United Kingdom.

The High Commission is located in London, the United Kingdom's capital city. New Zealand has maintained a resident High Commissioner

High Commissioner

High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...

 in the United Kingdom since 1905, and a resident Head of Mission

Head of Mission

In diplomatic usage, Head of Mission or Chief of Mission from the French "Chef de Mission Diplomatique" is the generic term used to refer to the head of a diplomatic representation, such as an Ambassador, High Commissioner, Nuncio, Chargé d'affaires, Permanent Representative, and sometimes to a...

 since 1871. The Ambassador to the United Kingdom is concurrently accredited

Dual accreditation

Dual accreditation is the practice in diplomacy of a country granting two separate responsibilities to a single diplomat. One prominent form of dual accreditation is for a diplomat to serve as the ambassador to two countries concurrently...

 to the Republic of Ireland and Nigeria

Nigeria

Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...

.

As New Zealand was created as a part of the British Empire

British Empire

The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...

, its diplomatic relationship with the United Kingdom is its longest-standing; the position of High Commissioner in London pre-dates New Zealand's dominion

Dominion

A dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, beginning in the latter part of the 19th century. They have included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland,...

 status by two years, the Balfour Declaration

Balfour Declaration 1926

The Balfour Declaration of 1926, a report resulting from the 1926 Imperial Conference of British Empire leaders in London, was named after the British statesman Arthur Balfour, first Earl of Balfour, Lord President of the Council and a previous Prime Minister of the United Kingdom...

 by 21 years, and the adoption of the Statute of Westminster

Statute of Westminster 1931

The Statute of Westminster 1931 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Passed on 11 December 1931, the Act established legislative equality for the self-governing dominions of the British Empire with the United Kingdom...

 by 42 years. The next oldest High Commissioner's position (the High Commissioner to Canada) was created only in 1942, and the High Commissioner to Australia in 1943.

As fellow members of the Commonwealth of Nations

Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...

, diplomatic relations between New Zealand and the United Kingdom are at governmental level, rather than between Heads of State

Head of State

A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...

. Thus, the countries exchange High Commissioners, rather than ambassadors.

Agents-General in the United Kingdom

	Name	Monarch	Took Office	Left Office
1	Dr Isaac Earl Featherston Isaac Featherston Dr. Isaac Earl Featherston was a New Zealand politician, and was known for his advocacy for the establishment of New Zealand self-government, and the importance of the provincial governments.-Early life:...	Victoria Victoria of the United Kingdom Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....	1871	1876
2	Sir Julius Vogel Julius Vogel Sir Julius Vogel, KCMG was the eighth Premier of New Zealand. His administration is best remembered for the issuing of bonds to fund railway construction and other public works...		1876	1880
3	Sir Francis Dillon Bell		1880	1891
4	Sir Westby Brook Perceval Westby Brook Perceval Sir Westby Brook Perceval was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party.-Biography:Perceval was born in Launceston, Tasmania, and educated at Christ's College, and at Stonyhurst College in England. He married Jessie Johnston in 1880...		1891	1895
5	William Pember Reeves William Pember Reeves The Hon. William Pember Reeves was a New Zealand statesman, historian and poet, who promoted social reform.-Biography:...	Victoria Victoria of the United Kingdom Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India.... , Edward VII Edward VII of the United Kingdom Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...	1895	1905

High Commissioners to the United Kingdom

	Name	Monarch	Took Office	Left Office
1	William Pember Reeves William Pember Reeves The Hon. William Pember Reeves was a New Zealand statesman, historian and poet, who promoted social reform.-Biography:...	Edward VII Edward VII of the United Kingdom Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...	1905	1908
2	Sir William Hall-Jones William Hall-Jones Sir William Hall-Jones, KCMG was the 16th Prime Minister of New Zealand from June 1906 until August 1906. He was the interim Prime Minister after the death of Richard Seddon and the return from overseas of Joseph Ward....	Edward VII Edward VII of the United Kingdom Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910... , George V George V of the United Kingdom George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....	1908	1912
3	Sir Thomas Mackenzie Thomas Mackenzie Sir Thomas Noble Mackenzie GCMG was a Scottish-born New Zealand politician and explorer who briefly served as the 18th Prime Minister of New Zealand in 1912, and later served as New Zealand High Commissioner in London....	George V George V of the United Kingdom George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....	1912	1920
4	Sir James Allen James Allen (New Zealand) Sir James Allen, GCMG, KCB was a prominent New Zealand politician and diplomat. He held a number of the most important political offices in the country, including Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was also New Zealand's Minister of Defence during World War I.-Early life:Allen...		1920	1926
5	Sir James Parr Christopher James Parr Christopher James Parr, later known as Sir James Parr was a New Zealand lawyer and politician of the Reform Party. He was Mayor of Auckland from 1911 to 1915, succeeded by Sir James Gunson....		1926	1930
6	Sir Thomas Mason Wilford Thomas Mason Wilford Sir Thomas Mason Wilford, KC was a New Zealand politician. He held the seats of Wellington Suburbs then Hutt continuously for thirty years, from 1899 to 1929...		1930	1935
	Sir James Parr Christopher James Parr Christopher James Parr, later known as Sir James Parr was a New Zealand lawyer and politician of the Reform Party. He was Mayor of Auckland from 1911 to 1915, succeeded by Sir James Gunson.... , 2nd time	George V George V of the United Kingdom George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936.... , Edward VIII Edward VIII of the United Kingdom Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...	1935	1936
7	Sir William Joseph Jordan William Joseph Jordan Sir William Joseph Jordan, KCMG, Privy Councillor, was a New Zealand Labour Party Member of Parliament, and New Zealand's longest-serving High Commissioner to Great Britain from 1935 to 1951.-Early life:...	Edward VIII Edward VIII of the United Kingdom Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay... , George VI George VI of the United Kingdom George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...	1936	1951
8	Sir Frederick Doidge Frederick Doidge Sir Frederick Widdowson Doidge, GCMG, was a journalist in New Zealand and England, then a National Party member in the New Zealand House of Representatives....	George VI George VI of the United Kingdom George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death... , Elizabeth II Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...	1951	1955
9	Sir Thomas Clifton Webb Thomas Clifton Webb Sir Thomas Clifton Webb KCMG was a New Zealand politician and diplomat. He was born in Te Kopuru in the Kaipara District, studied at Auckland University College, and practised law in Dargaville. He was in the army from 1917-1919, then returned to his practice in Dargaville and was a borough...	Elizabeth II Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...	1955	1958
	Dr Richard Mitchelson Campbell Richard Mitchelson Campbell Richard Mitchelson Campbell CMG , often known as Dick Campbell, was a New Zealand economist, civil servant , and diplomat...  (acting)		1958	1958
	George Laking George Laking Sir George Robert Laking, KCMG, was a New Zealand diplomat who served as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador to the United States, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Chief Ombudsman.-Early life:...  (acting)		1958	1961
10	Sir Thomas Lachlan MacDonald		1961	1968
11	Sir Denis Blundell Denis Blundell -Bibliography:* The Story of Bell Gully Buddle Weir by Julia Millen ISBN 1-86934-026-4-External links:* *...		1968	1972
	Merwyn Norrish Merwyn Norrish Merwyn Norrish , is a distinguished New Zealand diplomat who served as New Zealand’s Ambassador to the European Community, Acting High Commissioner to London, Ambassador to the United States, and Secretary of Foreign Affairs.-Early life:Norrish was educated at Ashburton High School and...  (acting)		1972	1973
12	Sir Terence McCombs Terence McCombs Sir Terence Henderson McCombs, OBE ED was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.-Early life:He was educated at Waitaki Boys' High School and Canterbury University College.-Member of Parliament:...		1973	1975
13	Hugh Watt Hugh Watt Hugh Watt was a Labour member of Parliament and Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1972 – 1974. He was briefly the Acting Prime Minister of New Zealand between 1 September 1974 – 6 September 1974 following the death of Norman Kirk....		1975	1976
14	Sir Douglas Carter Douglas Carter Sir Douglas Julian Carter was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.He represented the Raglan electorate from 1957 to 1975, when he retired. He was a cabinet minister.From 1976 to 1979 he was the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom....		1976	1979
15	Les Gandar Les Gandar Leslie Walter Gandar was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.He represented the seat of Manawatu from 1966 to 1972, then Ruahine from 1972 to 1978. He was defeated in 1978 for the new seat of Rangitikei by Bruce Beetham. Beetham had won the seat in the Rangitikei by-election, held...		1979	1982
16	Bill Young Bill Young (New Zealand) William "Bill" Lambert Young, CMG, was a New Zealand politician, born in Kawakawa. He attended Ngawha Native School where his parents were teachers, and then Wellington College....		1982	1985
17	Joe Walding Joe Walding Joseph Albert Walding was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He represented the Palmerston North electorate from 1967 to 1975, when he was defeated by John Lancelot Lithgow, and from 1978 to 1981, when he retired. He was a cabinet minister, and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in...		1985	1985
18	Bryce Harland Bryce Harland William "Bryce" Harland QSO, , distinguished New Zealand diplomat and academic, who served as New Zealand's first Ambassador to China, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, and High Commissioner to London....		1985	1991
19	George Gair George Gair George Frederick Gair, CMG, QSO is a former New Zealand politician. He was once deputy leader of the National Party in the Parliament of New Zealand, and was considered by many to be a possible contender for the leadership itself...		1991	1994
20	John Collinge John Collinge John Gregory Collinge is a former president of the New Zealand National Party and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.-Early life:Collinge was born in the Hastings suburb of Mahora in 1939...		1994	1997
21	Richard Grant		1997	1999
22	Paul East Paul East Paul Clayton East, CNZM, QC, is a former New Zealand politician.-Early life:Paul East was educated at King's College and The University of Auckland He was a Member of Parliament from 1978 to 1999, representing the National Party....		1999	2002
23	Russell Marshall Russell Marshall Cedric Russell Marshall, CNZM was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party, who had been a Methodist minister from 1960 to 1972, and school teacher 1955–56 and 1972.-Member of Parliament:...		2002	2005
24	Jonathan Hunt Jonathan Hunt (New Zealand) Jonathan Lucas Hunt, ONZ is a New Zealand politician, and was New Zealand's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2005 to March 2008. He formerly served as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. He is a member of the Labour Party, and was until recently the longest-serving MP...		2005	2008
25	Derek Leask Derek Leask Derek Leask is a New Zealand diplomat, since March 2008 the High Commissioner from New Zealand to the United Kingdom, and concurrently accredited as Ambassador to Ireland and High Commissioner to Nigeria. Leask is a career diplomat, who joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1969...		2008	incumbent