Prime Minister Bill English says the abrupt sacking of FBI director James Comey is "a matter for President Trump".
US President Donald Trump fired Comey this morning in a shock dismissal.
English met Comey only weeks ago at a gathering of intelligence and security agencies related to the Five Eyes spying network in Queenstown.
Asked for his impressions of the former FBI director, English said "he was just the usual, professional, civilised senior American public servant".