Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced changes to her Cabinet line-up following the resignation of Minister Kris Faafoi and Speaker Trevor Mallard's diplomatic posting.
Here are the changes:
- Kris Faafoi resigns from Parliament. Kiri Allan promoted to Justice Minister, Michael Wood picks up Immigration.
- Speaker Trevor Mallard to end 35-year parliamentary career in mid-August as he prepares to take up a diplomatic post in Europe. Adrian Rurawhe to be nominated as Speaker.
- Priyanca Radhakrishnan moves into Cabinet and gains Associate Workplace Relations and Safety.
- Kieran McAnulty becomes a Minister outside of Cabinet with a focus on regional issues - picking up Emergency Management and Racing. Duncan Webb to take over as Chief Whip.
- Chris Hipkins takes over Police and passes COVID-19 Response to Ayesha Verrall.
Ardern said Minister Faafoi's resignation comes as his son is due to start school and he hopes to spend more time with his family.
"Kris made the move onto the list at the last election and I'm grateful for the significant work he undertook this term in resetting our immigration and public broadcasting settings. He goes with the love and thanks of his colleagues for his contribution over many years."
Ardern said Speaker Mallard informed her after the 2020 election that he wanted to move out of the Speaker's role over the course of the Labour Government's current term.
"Trevor Mallard has been an MP for 35 years and has held thirteen different Ministerial portfolios across his career including Education, Labour and Rugby World Cup. He has been Speaker for five years and is currently the Father of the House."
Mallard will leave the Speaker's chair in mid-August to take up a posting in Europe in 2023.
Those replacing Mallard and Faafoi are Dan Rosewarne and Soraya Peke-Mason from the Labour list.
Minister Poto Williams has been subbed out of the Police portfolio and now picks up Conservation and Disability issues.
"We both share the view that at this time it's critical that our focus is on supporting the Police, implementing our record investment in the frontline, passing our further gun law reforms and developing additional measures to deal with the current escalation in gang tensions and violence," Ardern said.
Minister Williams takes over Disability Issues from Carmel Sepuloni who the Prime Minister thanked for her work.
"Having done a huge amount of mahi she will now take a lead role alongside Minister Robertson on developing the social insurance scheme - a significant piece of work."
Minister Chris Hipkins is now the new Minister of Police. Wiith a degree in criminology, the Prime Minister said he has a long interest in working in the youth justice space.
"Along with the Minister for Social Development and Employment he will co-lead a youth justice ministerial team to focus on the drivers of the spike we have seen in some parts of youth offending recently."
Jan Tinetti will free Hipkins up of a significant part of his Education portfolio.
"Tinetti... has played an excellent role as Associate Education where she brings decades of experience as a teacher and school principal."
Hipkins is freed of his COVID-19 portfolio too with Dr Ayesha Verall taking over as well as picking up Research, Science and Innovation.
"Having moved from the emergency to the ongoing response now is the right time for her to pick up the COVID-19 Response portfolio."
MP for Maungakiekie Priyanca Radhakrishnan saw a promotion in Ardern's reshuffle, moving into Cabinet, where she adds Associate Workplace Relations and Safety with a focus on migrant exploitation to her current portfolios.
"Since becoming a Minister outside of Cabinet in 2020 she has overseen the establishment of a new Ministry for Ethnic Communities, and worked on complex issues like foreign interference and social cohesion," Ardern added.
Minister Kiri Allan picks up the Justice portfolio from Faafoi and also takes the Associate Finance role.
"Kiri is a very capable Minister with a big future and this portfolio allocation is a sign of my confidence in her."
Michael Wood takes on the Immigration, also Faafoi's portfolio.
"Which fits with his Workplace Relations portfolio and our focus on skills."
Meka Whaitiri has been recognised for her "excellent job" in Customs, picking up the Food Safety portfolio.
And Willie Jackson takes Faafoi's Broadcast portfolio, where the Prime Minister said Jackson comes with "extensive sector knowledge".
