Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has told TVNZ that our Governor-General did not go to the World Holocaust Forum because of confusion over who New Zealand’s head of state actually is:

“The invitation to the forum was for heads of state, which Peters said was a “mistaken impression” of New Zealand’s constitution, so the Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy was never an option.

”I don’t think they quite understand our constitutional position. Our head of state is the Queen, but if somebody makes - internationally - a mistake as to the constitutional position of this country it is no reason for us to go along with it,” he said.

”Our job is to correct the impression, in this case, a mistaken impression.”

On that basis, Peters said it was decided this year that a representative of Parliament, such as the Speaker, was a more appropriate person to attend.”

This is unusual as the Governor-General has represented New Zealand overseas a number of times. The reality as we all know is that only a New Zealander can represent New Zealand.