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Key criticises Labour's new-look bench

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 24 Nov 2014, 5:20AM
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Key criticises Labour's new-look bench

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 24 Nov 2014, 5:20AM

UPDATED 5.25PM: John Key is scathing of a front bench that's seen Annette King returned as Deputy Leader and Grant Robertson named as finance spokesman.

"It's going to be a seething backbench of misery and discontent, isn't it.

"I mean, from sort-of 13th-17th - with the except of Parker - they're all former leaders. I can't see how they're going to be terribly happy.

"Robertson in the finance role, I don't know. Annette King's hardly the face of the future."

Little reveals Labour caucus

Labour's new lineup is out - with a mixture of the disappointed from the leadership battle, some old hands, and some rising stars. 

Labour's freshly-minted leader Andrew Little has chosen Annette King as his deputy.

AUDIO: Barry Soper on Labour's new-look front bench 

Grant Robertson, who was narrowly defeated in the leadership runoff contest, will get the Finance portfolio. 

Nanaia Mahuta, who also ran in the contest, will become Maori Development spokesperson. 

Phil Twyford will work on Housing and Transport. 

Chris Hipkins will keep his Education and Early Childhood Education roles. 

New Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis will take on both Police and Corrections. 

The press conference was postponed after fire alarms sounded in the parliamentary precinct forcing the evacuation of the old parliament building. 

Newstalk ZB's political editor Barry Soper says after 17, the MPs are all unranked.

"And what he says he's doing that for is to open it up to competition to say that the top 17 that he's named that are ranked are there for the next year. There's some big portfolios that are unranked."

Labour Party Caucus 24 November 2014

1

Andrew Little

Leader of the Opposition

Security and Intelligence

2

Annette King

Deputy Leader

Health

3

Grant Robertson

Finance

4

Nanaia Mahuta

Maori Development

5

Phil Twyford

Housing

Transport

6

Chris Hipkins

Shadow Leader of the House

Senior Whip

Education

Early Childhood Education

7

Carmel Sepuloni

Social Development

Junior Whip

8

Kelvin Davis

Police

Corrections

Associate Justice (Sexual & Domestic Violence)

Associate Education (Maori Education)

Associate Regional Development

9

Jacinda Ardern

Justice

Children

Small Business

Arts, Culture, Heritage

10

David Clark

Economic Development

Associate Finance

Associate Health (Mental Health)

11

Su’a William Sio

Pacific Island Affairs

Local Government

Associate Housing (South Auckland)

Interfaith Dialogue

12

Iain Lees-Galloway

Labour

13

Megan Woods

Environment

Climate Change

14

David Cunliffe

Regional Development

Tertiary Education

Research & Development

Science & Innovation

Associate Economic Devt

15

David Parker

Trade & Export Growth

Shadow Attorney General

Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

16

David Shearer

Foreign Affairs

Consumer Affairs

17

Phil Goff

Defence

Veterans' Affairs

Disarmament

Auckland Issues

Ethnic Affairs

 

 

 

Unranked

Trevor Mallard

Assistant Speaker

Internal Affairs (excluding Gambling)

Sport and Recreation

Animal Rights

Parliamentary Reform

Unranked

Ruth Dyson

Conservation

Senior Citizens

Disability Issues

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

Unranked

Damien O’Connor

Primary Industries

Biosecurity

Food Safety


Unranked

Clayton Cosgrove

Revenue

SOEs

Building and Construction

Earthquake Commission

Assoc.  Finance

Unranked

Sue Moroney

ACC

Immigration

Women’s Affairs

Associate Labour

Unranked

Clare Curran

ICT
Broadcasting

Open Government

Assoc. Justice

Assoc. Commerce

Unranked

Kris Faafoi

Commerce

State Services

Racing

Assistant Whip

Unranked

Louisa Wall

Youth Affairs

Assoc.  Auckland Issues (South Auckland)

Assoc . Sport and Recreation

Unranked

Stuart Nash

Forestry

Energy

Land Information

Statistics

Unranked

Rino Tirikatene

Fisheries

Associate Regional Development

Customs

Unranked

Meka Whaitiri

Water

Assoc. Regional Development

Assoc. Finance

Assoc. Primary Industries

Unranked

Poto Willams

Community & Voluntary

Assoc. Housing (Chch)

Assoc. Justice (Family)

Assoc.  Education (Christchurch Schools)

Unranked 

Peeni Henare

Tourism

Associate Maori Development (Employment & Te Reo Maori)

 Unranked

Adrian Rurawhe

Civil Defence & Emergency Management

Assoc. Internal Affairs (Gambling)

Assoc. Treaty Negotiations

 Unranked

Jenny Salesa

Employment, Skills and Training

 

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