New Zealand's defence force chief resigns over a relationship he failed to disclose

Air Marshal Tony Davies has resigned as Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force with immediate effect, after admitting that he had an inappropriate relationship while holding a unit command earlier in his career and had not disclosed it. The New Zealand Defence Force and Defence Minister Paul Goldsmith announced the decision in separate statements on the afternoon of 23 October, New Zealand time.

In the Defence Force statement, Davies said he was stepping down for personal reasons and because of errors of judgement he had made in the past, which he said went against the values of the military and for which he accepted responsibility. He said the matter centred on a relationship he had while in a position of unit command, and that he regretted not disclosing it when he had the chance. He asked for privacy and said his focus was now on his family.

Goldsmith said the reasons for the resignation related to integrity matters that Davies had not previously disclosed, and that the two men agreed his position was no longer tenable. The minister said he would recommend that the Governor-General accept the resignation. He acknowledged Davies' 42 years of service, but said the circumstances would be a great disappointment to the men and women of the Defence Force.

The Defence Force has referred the matter to the Inspector-General of Defence. Goldsmith said that because of that referral he had nothing further to add, and the Defence Force said it would make no further comment for now. Neither statement said when the relationship took place, which unit Davies was commanding at the time, or when the matter came to light.

Command passes to two acting chiefs in quick succession. The Chief of Army, Major General Rose King, is serving as acting Chief of Defence Force until Sunday, after which the Vice Chief of Defence Force, Rear Admiral Mat Williams, will take over in an acting capacity, according to the minister and 1News. The Defence Force said arrangements were already under way to hand responsibilities to Williams.

The Chief of Defence Force commands the navy, army and air force and is the principal military adviser to the defence minister and other ministers dealing with defence and international security. The post is filled by the Governor-General on the minister's recommendation. When then Defence Minister Judith Collins announced Davies' appointment in May 2024, the government gave him a three-year term from 6 June that year, which would have run until mid-2027.

Davies joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1984. The NZ Herald said his official biography shows he served as Chief of Air Force from 2016 to 2018 and then as Vice Chief of Defence Force from 2018 until he took the top job. He was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1999 for leading a winter medical rescue mission from McMurdo Station in Antarctica.

His departure leaves the Defence Force without a permanent chief, and the organisation will be led on an interim basis while the Inspector-General looks into the matter. None of the statements gave a timetable for appointing a permanent successor, which under the law is a decision for the Governor-General on the defence minister's advice.