Explainer: Phil Goff has lost his job as UK High Commissioner, after the Foreign Affairs minister declared comments he made at a public event about US President Donald Trump had left his position "untenable".

New Zealand's High Commissioner to the UK, Phil Goff, lost his job after making comments about US President Donald Trump at a Chatham House event. His reference to a Winston Churchill speech led to dismissal.

The foreign affairs minister says as UK High Commissioner, Phil Goff was acting as 'the face of New Zealand' and had to be sacked after comments about Donald Trump.