Phil Goff facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency the Honourable Phil Goff CNZM
Goff in 2024
33rd High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom
Incumbent
Assumed office January 2023
Prime Minister	Jacinda Ardern Chris Hipkins Christopher Luxon
Preceded by	Bede Corry
2nd Mayor of Auckland
In office 1 November 2016 – 8 October 2022
Deputy	Bill Cashmore
Preceded by	Len Brown
Succeeded by	Wayne Brown
32nd Leader of the Opposition
In office 19 November 2008 – 13 December 2011
Prime Minister	John Key
Deputy	Annette King
Preceded by	John Key
Succeeded by	David Shearer
13th Leader of the Labour Party
In office 11 November 2008 – 13 December 2011
Deputy	Annette King
Preceded by	Helen Clark
Succeeded by	David Shearer
35th Minister of Defence
In office 19 October 2005 – 19 November 2008
Prime Minister	Helen Clark
Preceded by	Mark Burton
Succeeded by	Wayne Mapp
25th Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 10 December 1999 – 19 October 2005
Prime Minister	Helen Clark
Preceded by	Don McKinnon
Succeeded by	Winston Peters
43rd Minister of Justice
In office 10 December 1999 – 19 October 2005
Prime Minister	Helen Clark
Preceded by	Tony Ryall
Succeeded by	Mark Burton
37th Minister of Education
In office 14 August 1989 – 2 November 1990
Prime Minister	Geoffrey Palmer Mike Moore
Preceded by	Geoffrey Palmer
Succeeded by	Lockwood Smith
9th Minister of Employment
In office 6 April 1987 – 14 August 1989
Prime Minister	David Lange
Preceded by	Kerry Burke
Succeeded by	Annette King
14th Minister of Housing
In office 26 July 1984 – 26 August 1987
Prime Minister	David Lange
Preceded by	Tony Friedlander
Succeeded by	Helen Clark
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
In office 6 November 1993 – 12 October 2016
Preceded by	Gilbert Myles
Succeeded by	Michael Wood
Constituency	Roskill (1993–96) New Lynn (1996–99) Mount Roskill (1999–2016)
In office 28 November 1981 – 27 October 1990
Preceded by	Arthur Faulkner
Succeeded by	Gilbert Myles
Constituency	Roskill
Personal details
Born	Philip Bruce Goff (1953-06-22) 22 June 1953 (age 72) Auckland, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Mary Ellen Goff ​ (m. 1979)​
Children	3
Residences	London, United Kingdom
Profession	Lecturer
Signature

Philip Bruce Goff (born 22 June 1953) is a New Zealand politician and diplomat. He is currently the High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom. He started this role in 2023.

Before this, he was a member of the New Zealand Parliament for many years. He served from 1981 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 2016. Phil Goff also led the Labour Party and was the Leader of the Opposition from 2008 to 2011.

During the Fifth Labour Government (1999-2008), Goff was a senior minister. He held important roles like Minister of Justice, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Minister of Defence.

In 2016, Goff was elected mayor of Auckland. He served two terms as mayor before retiring from that role in 2022.

Early Life and Education

Phil Goff was born and grew up in Auckland, New Zealand. His family faced financial challenges. His father wanted him to start working right after high school. However, Phil wanted to go to university.

To pay for his studies, he left home at 16. He worked hard at places like a meat processing plant and as a cleaner. He earned a Master of Arts degree in political studies from the University of Auckland. In 1973, he was a top student in political studies. He also won a law prize. While finishing his degree, he taught political studies. After traveling in Europe, he returned to New Zealand. He then became an organiser for an insurance workers' union.

Member of Parliament: First Term (1981–1990)

Phil Goff joined the Labour Party in 1969. He held several roles within the party. He was the chairman of the Labour Youth Movement. He was also elected to the Labour Party's national council twice.

In 1981, Goff decided to run for Parliament. He was chosen as the Labour candidate for the Roskill area. In the 1981 elections, Goff was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP represents their local area in the government. In 1983, he became Labour's spokesperson for housing.

Cabinet Minister: 1984–1990

In 1984, the Labour Party won the election. Phil Goff became the youngest member of the Cabinet. The Cabinet is a group of senior ministers who make important decisions for the country. He was the Minister of Housing. From 1986, he also became the Minister for the Environment. As Housing Minister, he helped people get loans for homes. He also bought state rental units.

After the 1987 elections, Goff took on new roles. He became Minister of Employment and Minister of Tourism. He also helped with tertiary education (university and college). He introduced changes to how tertiary studies were funded. This included students paying some fees and getting student loans.

Later, in 1989, he became Minister of Education. This happened after Prime Minister David Lange resigned. He worked under the new Prime Minister, Geoffrey Palmer. As Education Minister, he worked to prevent further cuts to university funding.

In Opposition: 1990–1999

In the 1990 elections, the Labour Party lost. Phil Goff also lost his seat in Parliament. He then worked at the Auckland Institute of Technology. He also studied at Oxford University for six months.

In the 1993 elections, Goff was re-elected as an MP for Roskill. Helen Clark, the new Labour leader, made him the party's spokesperson for Justice. In 1996, Goff was part of a group that asked Clark to step down as leader. Clark remained leader and chose not to remove Goff from his roles.

From 1996 to 1999, while Labour was not in power, Goff was the spokesperson for Justice and Courts. He also became the spokesperson for Foreign Affairs after Mike Moore left Parliament.

Cabinet Minister: 1999–2008

Goff and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates walk into the Pentagon, 11 May 2007.

In the 1999 elections, Labour won. Phil Goff became the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister of Justice. He kept these roles after the 2002 elections. After the 2005 elections, he became Minister of Defence and Disarmament. He also kept the Trade role.

In 2001, he was involved in the decision to accept 131 refugees from the MV Tampa ship. Australia had previously refused entry to the ship. Goff later said this was one of the best decisions made by the Labour Government. After the September 11 attacks in 2001, Goff offered New Zealand's support to the United States. New Zealand joined the war in Afghanistan against those responsible for the attacks.

In 2003, the Labour government did not send combat troops to the Iraq War. This was because the invasion did not have a clear United Nations approval. However, New Zealand did send medical and engineering teams to Iraq.

As Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister, Goff supported free trade agreements. He saw them as a way to build relationships with other countries, especially in Asia. He signed the New Zealand–China Free Trade Agreement in 2008. This agreement aimed to remove taxes on goods traded between New Zealand and China.

Leader of the Opposition: 2008–2011

Goff at the Progressive Governance Conference 2009, at Viña del Mar, Chile

After the 2008 election, Labour lost. Helen Clark resigned as leader. Phil Goff became the new leader of the Labour Party. He also became the Leader of the Opposition. This means he led the main party not in government. Annette King was elected as his deputy leader.

In 2010, the government considered raising the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from 12.5% to 15%. Goff opposed this. He said it would hurt families. Labour launched a campaign called 'Axe the Tax'. Goff suggested removing GST from fresh fruit and vegetables.

In February 2010, the government proposed opening up some national park land for mining. Goff and Labour strongly opposed these plans. He promised to protect any land released from mining if his party returned to power.

Parliamentary Career After Leadership: 2011–2016

Goff and his wife, Mary (left), with Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown (right) in September 2015

In the 2011 general election, Labour had a poor result. Phil Goff and his deputy, Annette King, announced they would step down as leaders. Goff remained an MP for his local area, Mount Roskill. He became the Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Phil Goff resigned from Parliament on 12 October 2016. This led to a special election in his Mount Roskill area.

Mayor of Auckland: 2016–2022

Goff in July 2022

On 22 November 2015, Phil Goff announced he would run for Mayor of Auckland. On 8 October 2016, he won the election. He became the second mayor of the Auckland 'super city'.

He officially became Mayor on 1 November 2016. He promised to work on social issues in Auckland, like homelessness. He also wanted to improve infrastructure and housing.

Public Speaking Events and Council Venues

In July 2018, Mayor Goff decided that the Auckland Council would not allow certain speakers to use council buildings. He stated this was because their views could cause ethnic or religious tensions. This decision led to a debate about free speech. Some people supported his decision, while others felt it limited free speech. A group called the "Free Speech Coalition" challenged his decision. They later withdrew their legal action.

Three Waters Reforms

In late 2021, Phil Goff joined other mayors in New Zealand. They opposed the Government's "Three Waters reform programme". This plan aimed to take control of water services away from local councils. Instead, it would place them under new national organisations.

Retirement from Mayoralty: 2022

On 14 February 2022, Phil Goff announced he would not seek to be Mayor of Auckland again. He said he planned to retire after 41 years in politics. He felt it was time for a new generation to lead.

High Commissioner to the United Kingdom: 2023–Present

In October 2022, it was announced that Phil Goff would become the High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom. He started this role in January 2023. This position means he represents New Zealand in the UK.

In May 2023, during a visit to London for the coronation of King Charles III, Goff made a mistake regarding Māori protocol. He forgot to perform a karakia (Māori prayer). He also made a comment that was misunderstood by the Māori King Tūheitia Paki's spokesperson. Phil Goff later apologised for not following the correct cultural steps.

Personal Life

Phil Goff is married to Mary Ellen Goff. They met in 1971 and married in 1979. They have three adult children. He lives on a farmlet in Clevedon, a rural area in Auckland.

Honours

In the 2017 New Year Honours, Phil Goff was recognised for his long service as a Member of Parliament. He was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM). This is a special award for people who have done great things for New Zealand.

|

See also

In Spanish: Phil Goff para niños