New Zealand's government sees big nod to NZ First, Greens and Andrew Little

October 25, 2017

The Prime Minister-elect has released details of who gets what in the Labour-led government. (Source: Other)

The make-up of New Zealand's new government has been released, with a big nod given to NZ First taking on Foreign Affairs and Defence, and the Green Party handed a cross section of environmental roles. 

At a press conference today, Prime Minister-elect Jacinda Ardern  acknowledged making changes in child poverty, the environment and re-entering Pike River.

Ms Ardern has given herself Minister for Child Poverty Reduction and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, the latter a position held by former PM Helen Clark from 1999-2008. 

She is also Minister for National Security and Intelligence. 

NZ First also nabbed a lush crop of portfolios, with Foreign Affairs and Defence going to the minor party. 

Peters will be Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs. (Source: Other)

Winston Peters picked up Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for State Owned Enterprises and Minister for Racing. 

Ron Mark , who has an extensive past in the NZ Defence Force has picked up Defence and Veterans.

Ms Ardern said today giving NZ First these roles was, "Simply that was making use of the expertise."

Labour's Kelvin Davis has been given Corrections in the new government, as well as a new post as Minister for Crown/Māori Relations. 

"That's in acknowledgment of the fact that we are beginning to move into a post Treaty negotiation period," Ms Ardern said.

"We want there to be emphasis on a post-Treaty settlement around economic development."

Labour MP Phil Twyford has been given the portfolio of Housing and Urban Development. (Source: Other)

In a no-surprises move, Labour's  Grant Robertson took up Finance, Phil Twyford has Housing, Chris Hipkins takes on Education and David Clark will be the new Minister of Health. 

Andrew Little has been given considerable work load, perhaps to acknowledge the former Labour leader stepping aside prior to the election, letting Ms Ardern come through as PM-elect. 

He takes on Minister of Justice, Minister for Courts, Minister Responsible for the GCSB, Minister Responsible for the NZSIS, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations and the new role of Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry.

"We want to make re-entry into Pike River mine a real priority," Ms Ardern said.

"I do want to place emphasis that he will work closely with the deputy prime minister on that piece of work given that he has a huge and strong interest in the area of pike river mine."

Carmel Sepuloni takes on Minister for Social Development, which will see sweeping changes with Labour's social policies looking vastly different from National's. 

The Green Party were handed a large number of social and environmental roles, with co-leader James Shaw as Minister for Climate Change and Minister of Statistics, and Associate Minister of Finance.

"We are both simultaneously both very proud and very humbled to be bestowed with this responsibility," he said today. 

"It gives us a tremendous opportunity to work on the areas we campaigned on."

The members will be outside Cabinet. 

Julie-Anne Genter will be Minister for Women and taking on Associate roles in Health and Transport and Eugenie Sage was given Minister of Conservation and Minister for Land Information. 

Ms Genter said the first move as Minister for Women will be to close the gender pay gap in New Zealand. 

Ms Ardern said in her speech: "I am a woman. I take the issues of things like equal pay, domestic violence, support for women in care giving roles incredibly seriously. I'll always be an advocate as prime minister for these issues."

Former Labour MP and new NZ First MP Shane Jones takes up Forestry, Infrastructure, and is now the Minister for Regional Economic Development. 

"Across the forestry area there really is an opportunity for us to make sure that we in partnership we are delivering some of the role the Crown may have but also utilising potentially iwi land if that’s how they choose to operate," Ms Ardern said.

"This is about what we do to work in partnership post a treaty settlement phase making sure that we are working side by side on regional economic opportunities, delivering together for Maori in those areas."

Full list: Who gets what in the Labour-led Government

As it happened: The big ministerial positions revealed by PM-elect Jacinda Ardern

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