PM Chris Hipkins hands Kiri Allan's ministerial portfolios to Ginny Anderson & Kieran McAnulty

Public Policy / news

Ginny Anderson named new Justice Minister and Kieran McNulty new Minister of Regional Development

24th Jul 23, 4:39pm by Eric Frykberg

Ginny Andersen.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has appointed Ginny Andersen as the new Minister of Justice.

She is currently the Minister of Police.

“Aligning the Justice and Police portfolios will be important in the coming weeks as we progress ram raid legislation to ensure young offenders face more accountability for their crimes," Hipkins says.

The position became vacant after the former Minister Kiri Allan was arrested after a car crash in Wellington.

Another Allan portfolio was Minister for Regional Development, which will be taken on by Kieran McAnulty.

Hipkins says that aligns with his current portfolio of Minister for Rural Communities.

In a further announcement, Hipkins says the Finance Minister Grant Robertson will take the lead co-ordination role for Tairawhiti in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle.

In a further change, David Parker will pass on Revenue to Barbara Edmonds, so he can concentrate more on transport issues.

Edmonds is also becoming an Associate Minister of Finance, and will relinquish her Associate Health role which will be redistributed amongst other Health Ministers.

Damien O’Connor will pick up the role of Associate Transport Minister and will support Parker.

Hipkins says the focus now is on making like better for New Zealanders. There are no new appointments to cabinet, which has 25 Ministers in the executive, with 18 in cabinet.

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44 Comments

by Mr Frank | 24th Jul 23, 4:49pm 1690174169

It's a race to the bottom.

It's over for Labour. They are truly a disaster. Hipkins has shown he can't get his Ministers under control. Sure, he didn't crash the car or resist arrest, but it's under his watch.

I am surprised he didn't blame the previous National government.

Good riddance.

by HSL | 24th Jul 23, 5:10pm 1690175416

I blame national and the racist homophobic bigoted police. How dare they expect a diversity hire to live by the laws of common people.

by Llama_360 | 24th Jul 23, 10:45pm 1690195552

Come on. I fully agree that the Government is a disaster but do you really think Kiri Allan's conduct is the result of a 'lack of control' by Hipkins? What steps had he taken to 'control' her and what steps should he have taken?

by Noncents | 24th Jul 23, 11:37pm 1690198638

He should have replaced the entire cabinet the second he was handed the reins. They have been consistently underperforming since day one (Remember than hiccup around the speaker vote).

If the argument to that is to say they have limited/no other talent, then any smart person would have also donned a life vest and jumped.

by lastlegs | 25th Jul 23, 1:12pm 1690247568

you can rubbish labour as much as you like,I dont think for one minute that the nationa/act combo will get the economy on track or reduce crime etc;the only lives that they enrich will be their own.

by solardb | 25th Jul 23, 6:44pm 1690267443

I think if NACT put their policy(or lack of action) inplace , the young will riot.Maybe its what we need.

by Foxglove. | 24th Jul 23, 5:13pm 1690175610

New Zealand has had a history of great Justice Ministers. Ralph Hanan, Martyn Finlay, Jim McLay for instance. That history allowed the public to hold confidence in the office to the point that there was calibre, a reliable sentinel who would ensure that our law remained sacrosanct, independent of political caprice. Recently neither major party had either a minister or spokesperson in the role with even a law degree and now that is so again.To me as an old guard that is a shocking dereliction of duty to the people. And now the combination of the Police & Justice ministries is rife with potential conflict about which the Prime Minister is either blissfully unaware or couldn’t give a damn. In Christchurch the recent construction of the new Justice precinct just across the road from the Central Police Station provides defendants with the spectre of a one shop does all, and unsurprisingly that set up has been roundly and rightly condemned by judges and lawyers as one. Only a numbskull could have designed that and only a numbskull would think to jam these two portfolios together.

by Zachary Smith | 24th Jul 23, 5:35pm 1690176914

Gosh those three Justice Ministers look like cast members of Yes Minister. What we need is young people who know how to partyyy and "break the rules!"...just kidding!

by solardb | 24th Jul 23, 6:53pm 1690181630

I'm sure there's plenty of older gin soaks in all parties.

by Foxglove. | 25th Jul 23, 9:12pm 1690276322

Ralph Hanan, terminally i’ll nevertheless introduced progressive and humanitarian legislation including the abolition of the death penalty. All sides of the house respected his great legal acumen, Martyn Finlay represented New Zealand at the International Court in Hague, brilliantly advocating our position and denouncing the French nuclear tests in the Pacific. Jim McLay stood tall and had the backbone to confront and neutralise ex PM Muldoon when he was refusing to admit he had been beaten in the 1984 election. And so to you and your opinion that these identities are gin soaks. That is ignorant, puerile and obviously reveals a persona lacking in either knowledge or dignity.

by Squishy | 24th Jul 23, 5:03pm 1690174994

It appears to me constituency MPs are carrying government now. Ginny is Hutt and Kieran is Masterton.

I think there needs to be a cull of list MPs this election because too many portfolios are being foisted onto MPs who are also supposed to be serving an actual constituency.

by Colin Cameron | 24th Jul 23, 5:27pm 1690176445

Totally agree hear them all asking for the party vote (cause we know best to pit on the list) and screw the actual vote in this is what I stand for vote for me. That premise is gone under the undemocratic system of MMP. We got sold a lie in that under MMP we would have less MPs hasn't happened and a better quality MP well that definitely hasn't happened the quality has gone backwards at a great rate.

by Noncents | 24th Jul 23, 6:57pm 1690181844

Both those names are tainted anyway.

Ginny's rent debacle and the Sharma Drama which named Kieran as a bully.

Ginny will fade into obscurity as she clearly has no real ability at anything, and Sharma will eventually be proven right re Kieran.

by Von Metternich | 24th Jul 23, 5:05pm 1690175131

When diversity hires fail, someone else has to pick up the slack.

by pankers | 24th Jul 23, 5:14pm 1690175674

In a further change, David Parker will pass on Revenue to Barbara Edmonds, so he can concentrate more on transport issues.

Very intersting passing the buck another minister giving up

by Waikatohome | 24th Jul 23, 6:18pm 1690179498

It is hard to look tough on crime when your Justice minister gets herself arrested. What a mess.

by dumbthoughts | 24th Jul 23, 6:21pm 1690179669

It's also hard to look tough on crime when your replacement Justice minister has spent the last however long trying to convince everybody that - much like depression - there is no crime in New Zealand and it's all made up scaremongering.

by Warwick D | 24th Jul 23, 6:40pm 1690180854

True, and also how much trust can you have in the replacement Justice Minister when you read the following in her Wikipedia page:

"In March 2021 Andersen admitted she knew about a secretive rent deal that saw $4500 in taxpayer cash funnelled into the local Labour Party each year. She'd previously said she only understood the deal after she “looked at it” ahead of the 2020 election. The deal worked through a subletting arrangement whereby the local Labour Party rented office space from the building’s owner, the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union, for $1500 a year. It then sublet that office to Andersen for her MP's duties, for $6000."

They just gotta go!

by dumbthoughts | 24th Jul 23, 6:52pm 1690181527

I feel like all MPs seem to be dodgy when it comes to property dealings - I can't tell if this is worse or better than what I'd expect, but it doesn't surprise me.

I just can't tolerate a police/justice minister who obfuscates on any and all matters relating to the sea of crime that normal people like you and I are experiencing, only to suddenly play "pretend tough" on crime once realising that the wool cannot be pulled any further over the public's eyes.

As you say, they gotta go. The little orange man may as well send me my voting paper now, because there is nothing short of Chippy firing all of his brain dead ministers and riding into battle solo that might convince me to vote for them.

by Foxglove. | 24th Jul 23, 7:03pm 1690182196

Extraordinary. Scarily extraordinary. You can only question whether there is even the scantiest degree of respect for the obligations and responsibilities of being sworn into parliament, let alone a ministry. There are some deep rooted distortions in attitude, culture and sincerity ai play here. As an adjective, corrupt is only a small start.

by sharetrader | 24th Jul 23, 7:15pm 1690182937

if i was other parties i would not jump up and down to much on this as plenty of them are stretching the grey area when it comes to the government leasing space for their office

by Foxglove. | 24th Jul 23, 7:30pm 1690183841

Oh too true. There was for example the disclosure of Bill English renting and claiming, back to back, for instance. In terms of the barrel though one bad apple doesn’t justify another.

by sharetrader | 24th Jul 23, 7:48pm 1690184920

a lot of them own their own office which is leased to the government, a nice little retirement scheme

hipkins is another that leases his from labour , a grand way of the party getting funds for the election

Annual Members’ ECO Lease Disclosure as at 30 September 2022 - New Zealand Parliament (www.parliament.nz)

by Warwick D | 25th Jul 23, 9:03am 1690232589

But the difference with Anderson's office rent wrought versus any MP who simply owns an office space and then rents it to State Services as his/her electoral office (a space which is always going to be funded by the taxpayer at whatever the prevailing rental rates are) was that the Labour Party was renting Anderson's office from the actual owner and then sub-letting it for 4 times this amount to State Services, knowing that there was no clear oversight on that sweet little money maker for the Party. Not very much integrity really.

by pankers | 24th Jul 23, 9:23pm 1690190636

dumbthoughts grow up

by solardb | 24th Jul 23, 6:57pm 1690181825

surprised Greg O'Connor doesn't get one of the crime portfolios.

by sharetrader | 24th Jul 23, 7:18pm 1690183087

he is deputy speaker so would have to relinguish that role, and if he ever makes it back and things go his way he might make it to speaker which ranks second behind PM in perks

by Yvil | 24th Jul 23, 8:53pm 1690188815

"surprised Greg O'Connor doesn't get one of the crime portfolios."

Did you mean Connor McGregor ?

by Flying high | 24th Jul 23, 10:14pm 1690193665

Greg O'Connor had a career in the police force

by Nzdan | 25th Jul 23, 8:05am 1690229131

Aside from the ACT party, MP's aren't given portfolios based on their real world experience. Even in National, you have an ex-business banker (Simeon Brown) as spokesperson for Transport, yet a journalism graduate (Nicola Willis) as spokesperson for Finance. I think a lot of the portfolios are dished out through informal "team building" nights, participants wear silly hats/ties and portfolios are handed out as spot prizes for party games.

by HBI024 | 24th Jul 23, 7:10pm 1690182632

Hipkins' given Ginny Anderson three ministerial portfolios in just over 6 months, whilst Cindy didn't have her in a single one... Ginny must be doing something right for the big dog

by Waikatohome | 24th Jul 23, 7:15pm 1690182950

Both Hutt valley locals and neighbouring electorates, I assume they have had plenty of opportunity to get to know and trust each other.

by Firstclass | 24th Jul 23, 7:53pm 1690185218

Crime is out of control in New Zealand, the ramraids and gang country. Time to get rid of the incompetent Labour, Greens coalition party.

by interesting1234 | 25th Jul 23, 8:28am 1690230534

It's the age old call, but when was the last time we built a prison and how much has the population increased since? I get the tough on crime speech usually goes down well in times like these but we have to be realistic and realise more people will eventually mean more crime.

by Nzdan | 25th Jul 23, 10:18am 1690237102

Tough on crime is quite emotive speak, but is it really being "tough on crime" if we stop giving generous sentencing discounts on already light sentences to repeat offenders? Seems like only drug chefs get sentences even remotely close to their legislated maximums, when taking into account other crimes they're extremely excessive.

18 years for stabbing a girl to death www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/weatherston-to-stay-in-jail-final-appeal-rejected…
15 years for importing drugs https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/two-jailed-for-30-years-for-supplying-dru…
28 years reduced to 21 years for cooking meth https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/130682900/supreme-court-cuts-28y…

by nzforall | 24th Jul 23, 9:44pm 1690191870

I suppose less harm would be done to the country if one person did the lot for the last 80 odd days.

by fortunr | 25th Jul 23, 9:14am 1690233268

This is simply the worst Government in NZ history. JA in particular will be remembered as the worst PM ever. This is utter chaos, and Hipkins is showing himself to be no better than Jacinda. Fortunately there are not many weeks left before we finally get rid of these muppets. They have done more than enough damage already.

by Colin Cameron | 25th Jul 23, 11:54am 1690242892

So so true. Yet the media promote her/labour as the savior and anyone against her/them are either misogynist or racists/homophobic

by K.W. | 25th Jul 23, 3:23pm 1690255420

This is really annoying me - The Left are portraying Kiri Allen's actions as a result of racism and misogyny, and media persecution (as if she was Princess Diana or something) and excusing her conduct and making her out to be the victim. Typical identity politics. No one is ever responsible for their actions, its always racism/misogyny/homophobia that caused a person to drink, drive drunk, drive recklessly, leave the scene of an accident, and resist arrest. Show me one other person who got off drink driving charges because they were upset over breaking up with their girlfriend? Chippie is going through a marital breakup as well - should we expect him to go commit a few crimes as well?

by solardb | 25th Jul 23, 8:18pm 1690273122

She did not get let off a drink driving charge , it was of a level only punished by a fine. She faces the more serious careless driving charge.

If you've never seen what a relationship break up can do to people, you must have lead a very sheltered life. A good portion of violence is caused by people ( usually men) reacting badly to a break up. but its good you acknowledge how well Hipkins has handled his.

by nzforall | 25th Jul 23, 2:08pm 1690250930

I see allan says she wont stand for the coming election.

I guess she has already made her pile so wont need to work other than have the sickness benefit.

Cant understand it though as in opposition there wont be much to do.

by solardb | 25th Jul 23, 6:48pm 1690267686

i didn't see anyone claiming Muller would be claiming the sickness benefit . wonder what the difference is ???

by Foxglove. | 25th Jul 23, 7:01pm 1690268485

Muller’s collapse was sad. Like Allan he had the courage to front. At the time he was accorded politically and generally, the respect and sympathy that was appropriate. But not always unfortunately. Just as in the case today, there were those on the opposite political divide that were unsympathetic going on sneering. Let that lie with them whoever they are. They are the ones with a problem.

by Roger the dodger | 25th Jul 23, 9:41pm 1690278101

As I recall he was lampooned by left leaning commentators.