Air Marshal Tony Davies has stepped down as New Zealand’s military chief after admitting to an inappropriate relationship while leading a unit.
Davies, who took command of the New Zealand Defence Force in 2024, submitted his resignation on Friday. The 42-year veteran of the country’s Air Force had risen through the ranks since joining in 1984, earning a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1998 for his part in a midwinter evacuation of a critically ill US citizen from Antarctica.
“I regret not disclosing this when I had the opportunity to do so,” Davies said in his statement. He did not provide details about when the relationship occurred or the specific circumstances surrounding it.
The Defence Force’s vice chief, Rear Admiral Mat Williams, is now taking over leadership duties during the transition. The military issued a brief statement confirming the change but declined to elaborate further on the situation.
“The resignation is for personal reasons, and results from errors of judgment made by me in the past, for which I am taking responsibility,” Davies said. “The errors of judgment were contrary to the values of the Defense Force.”
The matter has been referred to the independent inspector-general, who handles investigations into military conduct. This referral suggests the relationship may have involved a breach of professional boundaries within the chain of command, though no formal findings have been announced.
Defence Minister Paul Goldsmith, an elected government official, confirmed he had accepted Davies’s resignation. Goldsmith characterized the situation as an “integrity matter” and indicated he had reached an agreement with Davies that his position had become untenable.
“I acknowledge his 42 years of service and his contribution to the New Zealand Defense Force,” Goldsmith said, “but note the circumstances of his resignation will be a great disappointment to the men and women of the Defense Force.”
Davies’s military education included graduating from the US Air Force Air Command and Staff Course at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama in 2000, followed by completion of the Royal College of Defence Studies in London in 2013. These postings reflected his steady advancement through senior leadership positions over three decades.
The sudden departure leaves the Defence Force without its appointed chief just months into Davies’s tenure, which began in 2024. The military has not specified how long Williams will serve in the acting role or when a permanent replacement might be selected.
The inspector-general’s investigation is expected to proceed independently of the Defence Force’s internal leadership transition.