Foreign Minister Phil Goff

The Honourable Philip Bruce Goff (born 22 June 1953), generally known as Phil Goff, is the current Minister of Defence of New Zealand. He also serves as Minister of Trade and Minister of Pacific Island Affairs. Phil Goff, NZ Minister of Foreign Affairs Source: Elza Fiúza/ABr. ... Phil Goff, NZ Minister of Foreign Affairs Source: Elza Fiúza/ABr. ... June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 192 days remaining. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Goff was born and raised in Auckland. His family was relatively poor, and his father wanted Goff to enter the workforce immediately after finishing high school. Goff, however, wished to attend university, a decision that caused him to leave home when only sixteen years old. By working as a freezing worker and a cleaner, Goff managed to put himself through university, gaining an MA (with first class honours) in political science. In 1973, he was Senior Scholar in Political Studies, and also won the Butterworth Prize for law. While completing his MA, he lectured in politics. He also briefly worked as an Insurance Workers Union organiser. Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ... A masters degree is an academic degree usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate or graduate course of one to three years in duration. ... Political science is a social science discipline that deals with the theory and practice of politics and the description and analysis of political systems and political behavior. ... 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ...

Goff had joined the Labour Party in 1969, the same year he left home, and held a number of administrative positions within the party. In the 1981 elections, Goff stood for Parliament in the Roskill electorate, and was elected. Three years later, when Labour won the 1984 elections, Goff was elevated to Cabinet, becoming its youngest member. He served as Minister of Housing and Minister of Employment. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ... The 1981 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament. ... The New Zealand Parliament is the legislative body of the New Zealand government. ... The 1984 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament. ... The New Zealand Cabinet is, in practice, the highest body of the New Zealand governments executive branch. ...

After the 1987 elections, Goff dropped the Housing portfolio, but also became Minister of Youth Affairs and Minister of Tourism. Later, after a significant rearrangement of responsibilities, Goff became Minister of Education. In the disputes between Roger Douglas (the reformist Finance Minister) and more orthodox MPs, Goff generally positioned himself on the side of Douglas, supporting deregulation and free trade. The 1987 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament. ... Sir Roger Douglas is a former New Zealand politician and senior Cabinet minister, best known for his leading role in the radical economic restructuring undertaken by the New Zealand Labour Party government in the 1980s. ... The Minister of Finance is a senior figure within the government of New Zealand. ... Deregulation is the process by which governments remove restrictions on business in order to (in theory) encourage the efficient operation of markets. ... Free trade is an economic concept referring to the selling of products between countries without tariffs or other trade barriers. ...

In the 1990 elections, Labour was defeated, and Goff lost his own parliamentary seat. While many commentators blamed Douglas's controversial reforms for Labour's loss, Goff said that the main problem had been in communication, not policy. Goff was appointed to a position at the Auckland Institute of Technology, and later accepted a scholarship to study for six months at Oxford University, but eventually decided to stand for parliament once again. The 1990 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliaments 43rd term. ... The Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is New Zealand’s newest university, formed on 1 January 2000 when the Auckland Institute of Technology was granted university status. ... The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford in England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ...

In the 1993 elections, Goff once more took a place in Parliament. Helen Clark, Labour's new leader, made him the party's spokesperson for Justice. In 1996, Goff was part of the group which asked Clark to step down as leader. Clark survived the challenge, and was advised by her allies to demote Goff, but chose not to do so. The 1993 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament. ... This article discusses the New Zealand Prime Minister. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

Goff retained his seat in the 1996 elections, having elected not to be placed on Labour's party list. In the 1999 elections, which Labour won, Goff accepted seventh place on the party list, but also retained his electorate seat. In Clark's new government, he became Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister of Justice. He retained this position after the 2002 elections. Following the 2005 elections Rt.Hon. Winston Peters was made Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Goff was made Minister of Defence and Disarmament and retained the Trade portfolio. The 1996 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament. ... The 1999 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 46th session of the New Zealand Parliament. ... The 2002 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 47th New Zealand Parliament. ... The 2005 New Zealand general election will be a nation-wide election for the New Zealand Parliament, and is to be held on 17 September 2005. ...

Goff is one of the better known members of the Labour Party, and is sometimes cited as a possible successor to Helen Clark. While Clark and Goff differ substantially in their economic policies they are able to work relatively well together. Goff is a strong advocate of putting ethical issues before national interests.

Phil Goff is married to Mary Ellen Goff, and has three children. He lives in the Auckland suburb of Clevedon.