Ministerial reshuffle: Chris Bishop loses Leader of the House, election campaign chair and gains Attorney General, Chris Penk promoted into cabinet

The Prime Minister’s reshuffle has been announced, with Chris Bishop losing the position as Leader of the House but gaining Attorney General. 

Another significant move by Christopher Luxon sees Simeon Brown pick up the role of National Party election campaign chairman, and replace Simon Watts as Energy Minister in the midst of a global oil shock.

"As you will notice, Chris Bishop has increased his ministerial workload in this reshuffle, and it's very clear that RMA reform, quite simply, the single most important economic reform of this government, will require significant attention in the coming months," Luxon said.

Reshuffles can be indications of MPs who are in favour of the party leader and those who are not, and within Government major moves can spur huge upheaval extending to staff members losing their jobs. 

In terms of those who have gained the most, Chris Penk has been pulled into Cabinet. The former naval officer is now the Minister of Defence, GCSB, NZSIS and Space. Penny Simmonds, who was demoted from Cabinet in 2024, has been pulled back in, with Luxon saying she has “successfully delivered reforms to the vocational education sector”. 

The energy portfolio, heavily brought into the spotlight over the fuel crisis, has been taken off Watts and “elevated”, with Luxon giving it to Brown. The Commerce portfolio has been taken off Scott Simpson and given to new MP Cameron Brewer. 

Bishop has been appointed Attorney General, with his Leader of the House role given to Louise Upston.

Paul Goldsmith is also now the Public Service and Digitising Government Minister, and Pacific Peoples Minister. 

“Nicola Grigg becomes Minister for the Environment and Scott Simpson becomes Minister of Statistics and Deputy Leader of the House,” Luxon said. 

“Joining as a Minister outside Cabinet, Cameron Brewer becomes Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Small Business and Manufacturing, and Associate Minister of Immigration. Mike Butterick becomes Minister for Land Information and Associate Minister of Agriculture.”