Labour leader Chris Hipkins has rolled out the party’s new line up ahead of the election, pulling up relatively new MP Vanushi Walters to pick up Foreign Affairs upon Peeni Henare’s departure, while veteran MP Damien O’Connor gets Defence and Camilla Belich receives Justice.
Other big changes include education going from Willow-Jean Prime to Ginny Andersen.
It comes the day Henare, who made a surprising announcement to retire in February, will deliver his valedictory speech.
“As we farewell some outstanding caucus colleagues and welcome new MPs Georgie Dansey and Dan Rosewarne, these refreshed portfolios ensure our team will hit the ground running when we win the election in November,” Hipkins said.
Duncan Webb, who is retiring at the election, will give up justice, regulation and the role of Deputy Shadow Leader of the House.

Tangi Utikere picks up Deputy Shadow Leader and State Owned Enterprises.
Walters was first elected in 2020 for a term before not making it into Parliament in 2023 and returning in May last year to replace David Parker. She had been Associate Foreign Affairs spokesperson.
“Vanushi Walters picks up Foreign Affairs, as well as the NZSIS and GCSB portfolios, bringing her international law experience to the role,” Hipkins said.
Reuben Davidson receives Economic Development, Willie Jackson picks up Māori Crown Relations and Associate Health (Māori), Shanan Halbert gets Whānau Ora and Willow-Jean Prime takes Social Development and Employment.
22 Comments
I wonder: will any policy start to emerge as a result?
And would you buy a used car from any of these people?
Willie Jackson obviously being loaded, lock stock and barrel, to once again wrest back the Maori electorates. Potential there for a few dust ups I would suggest. That may attract quite a bit of attention from the headline hungry hounds of the media, and at the gallop. Might be the most entertaining feature of the election.
More lipstick on the pig
At least the animal can be identified.
As compared to a 3-headed dinosaur...
"As compared to a 3-headed dinosaur"
Labour, Greens & TPM
Consider the deckchairs rearranged
⛴️⬇️
🥂
Happy to uptick vote you here Cote...
damn thats the second time recently
you should comment on non property matters more!
Are they running out of blokes?
You musta missed the meeting where we all decided we wanted to prioritize diversity over competence.
Well, I wasn’t expecting competence. They’re politicians after all.
But given the way they waffle on about equality it’s interesting to see women outnumber men 2-1.
You missed the memo where equality only works one way. Man, I thought everyone was up on the play about all this.
These pollies are now either ex academia, professional managers, or a mixture of both.
You really want ninjas on all this stuff. But they usually keep a low profile.
you mean like the greens where they must have different genders as co leaders, which must be interesting given there are about 27 different genders nowdays
Hah, true never considered that. The party's founders probably never envisaged how far it'd stray away from a common aim of environmentalism. Ditch the enviro and double down on the mental.
Can we still say mental?
Has it changed? Had thought the criteria was one of the leaders must be female and one must be Maori? Therefore somehow, two females were acceptable provided one was Maori but two males in the same configuration were not. If so that would seem to confirm that the Greens have no inclination towards candidacy based on merit anymore than racial impartiality which rather destroys any credibility from the outset in terms of representing all New Zealanders across the board.
All I know is
When you make the task of picking a leader so convoluted
Your grander ideas are likely even less coherent or well considered.
That’s it foxglove. 1 must be female and the other any other sex and 1 must be Maori. So 2 blokes, 2 whites, 2 Chinese, 2 Pacific Islanders etc all banned. Environmental party my arse.
Can we still say mental?
yes but you cannot say spastic
What about retard?
OK now we done woke and BS here is the real deal
https://www.afr.com/markets/debt-markets/markets-readies-for-rate-rise-…
AUDNZD going to keep going up 1.21 now
and da comb nails the coffin shut a SECOND time
https://www.oneroof.co.nz/news/tony-alexander-irans-hit-on-nz-mortgages…
rents down, interest rates up, council rates up NZ pooperty as an "investment" asset needs a reprice.
All good if you own an offshore sellable $5 mil Waiheke or Queerstown bach though, or an equestrian estate.
Yep. Have to work with the hand you're dealt. Currently I
- have recently received a few $00k of family estate funds into my Australian bank account which are awaiting the RBAs decision to then go on Oz TD at >1% over NZ rates
- have a relative in the process of relocating from Oz back to NZ this year who is selling a house thats doubled price in 3 years & then gains another 20% in NZD.
- went unconditional today on a house (to be renovated) in North Canterbury that we will then share & split costs on.
- have another relative in NZ today broke their fixed mortgage to pay down a third of it, refixed with the interest rate difference exceeded the break fee in Y1 & the remaining term halved by maintaining the same payments.
"In the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity,"
Bit concerning that the Minister who oversaw the closure of Marsden Point retains energy spokesperson role.
Yes but very good at lunch seemingly.
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