Chlöe Swarbrick and Julie Anne Genter have been appointed as the Green Party's new finance team in a portfolio reshuffle to accommodate an expanded caucus.
Swarbrick is now revenue spokesperson while Genter takes on finance, portfolio appointments reminiscent of the National Party's recent reshuffle which also saw the finance role split between two MPs.
Green Party co-leader James Shaw previously held the finance spokesperson role, but both he and co-leader Marama Davidson have appointed themselves portfolios that reflect their ministerial positions.
"James and I will hold portfolios that pertain to our ministerial positions," Davidson said on Monday in Wellington announcing the party's portfolio reshuffle.
"For me that means the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence and Housing. For James that means Climate Change and Environment (Biodiversity)."
Shaw and Davidson were given ministerial roles as part of a 'cooperation agreement' signed with Labour. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern offered the Greens a post-election deal despite Labour winning a majority.
The Greens now have 10 seats in Parliament following the election, two more than they previously had, after gaining 7.9 percent of the party vote. Swarbrick also won Auckland Central, marking the second time the Greens had ever won an electorate.
Despite only winning two new seats after the election, the Greens were able to bring in three new MPs due to the departure of Gareth Hughes. The Greens have brought in three new MPs from the list: Teanau Tuiono, Dr Elizabeth Kerekere and Ricardo Menendez March.
"Teanau Tuiono brings his unique Pasifika voice to our caucus and gains the Pacific Peoples portfolio. He will focus on the climate impacts of our oceans, and how that relates to our Pacific neighbours," Davidson said.
"He also brings a much valued regional perspective to the portfolios of Agriculture, Regional Economic Development, and Rural Communities."
Tuiono also takes over Security and Intelligence from Golriz Ghahraman, who holds on to human rights issues, advocating for refugees, foreign affairs and electoral reform.
Green Party portfolios:
Dr Kerekere will bring her "decades of lived experience, intelligence, grit, and academic research" to the Rainbow Communities portfolio, and the Māori Development and Health portfolios, Davidson said.
"As an artist she will also bring mana and creativity to the Arts, Culture and Heritage portfolio."
Menendez March, the former coordinator of Auckland Action Against Poverty, will bring his experience as a poverty campaigner and advocate to the Social Development and Employment portfolio.
As a Mexican immigrant, he will also take on the immigration portfolio.
Swarbrick will continue as drug law reform spokesperson, after vowing to continue advocating for cannabis law reform despite a majority of New Zealanders voting 'no' in the recreational cannabis referendum.
Genter retains transport after holding the position of Associate Transport Minister in the previous administration.
"She gains Finance, where she'll be able to put forward a strong green economic plan. She also gains Local Government and Building and Construction - where her planning credentials will shine," Shaw said.
Genter will also shadow Labour's Chris Hipkins and National's Chris Bishop as COVID-19 response spokesperson.
Eugenie Sage continues with environmental portfolios. She was Conservation Minister and Associate Environment Minister in the previous Government.
Jan Logie becomes 'musterer', the term the Greens prefer over 'whip'. She holds a range of portfolios committed to ending inequality in the areas of Child Poverty, Disabilities and Women.
In the previous Government Logie was Undersecretary to the Minister of Justice on family violence issues - a role Davidson is taking over in her ministerial capacity.
