Chris Seed
New Zealand diplomat and public servant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christopher John Seed CNZM is a New Zealand diplomat and former senior public servant who is currently serving as Acting High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom.
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His Excellency Chris Seed | |
|---|---|
Seed in 2024 | |
| New Zealand High Commissioner to the United Kingdom | |
Acting | |
| In office 11 March 2025 – 5 September 2025[1] | |
| Monarch | Charles III |
| Prime Minister | Christopher Luxon |
| Preceded by | Phil Goff |
| Succeeded by | Hamish Cooper |
| Chief Executive and Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade | |
| In office 1 February 2019 – 1 February 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Brook Barrington |
| Succeeded by | Bede Corry |
| 18th New Zealand High Commissioner to Australia | |
| In office 21 November 2013 – 7 December 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Martyn Dunne |
| Succeeded by | Annette King |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | Massey University |
| Profession | Diplomat |
He was the Chief Executive and Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2019 to 2024. Previously he was High Commissioner of New Zealand to Australia from 2013 to 2018.
Early life and education
Seed was born and raised in Waipukurau, Hawke's Bay, attending Central Hawke's Bay College from 1974 to 1978.[2] From Massey University, he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (1983) and a Master of Arts in history (1984).[2][3]
Career
Seed joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1985 and had early career postings to Tehran, Canberra, London, and Papua New Guinea.[3]
Seed was deputy secretary in charge of policy and planning at the Ministry of Defence from 2004 to 2008 and also had a one-year secondment to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
He returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as a deputy secretary in 2008. During a five-year period he held responsibility for Australia, the Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.[3] In 2013 he was appointed to be New Zealand's High Commissioner to Australia.[4] He concluded that appointment in 2018 and the next year was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade.[3] His tenure included managing international aspects of New Zealand's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and extracting 1700 New Zealanders from Afghanistan following the international withdrawal from that country in 2021.[5]
Seed retired in 2024, however he was recalled in March 2025 to serve as Acting High Commissioner to the United Kingdom following Phil Goff being removed from the role for making comments about United States President Donald Trump at a Chatham House event in London.[6] Seed will serve as Acting High Commissioner until September 2025, when he will be succeeded by Hamish Cooper.[7] Seed has been appointed to succeed Rosemary Banks as New Zealand's Ambassador to the United States in early 2026.[8]
Honours and awards
In the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours Seed was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the State.[9]
