Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Video | Agriculture | Confidence | Economy | Energy | Employment | Finance | Media | Property | RBNZ | Science | SOEs | Tax | Technology | Telecoms | Tourism | Transport | Search

 

Brownlee takes Foreign Minister post in Cabinet reshuffle

Monday 24 April 2017 01:26 PM

Brownlee takes Foreign Minister post in minor Cabinet reshuffle; Nick Smith survives

By Pattrick Smellie

April 24 (BusinessDesk) - Gerry Brownlee is to be the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, replacing Murray McCully, while Education Minister Hekia Parata will be replaced, as expected, by her current associate minister, Nikki Kaye.

Prime Minister Bill English announced the appointments today in a minor Cabinet reshuffle to take effect from May 1. He had foreshadowed the final changes to his ministry before the Sept. 23 election when he took over from John Key as Prime Minister before Christmas.

Brownlee will relinquish his portfolios with responsibility for the Christchurch rebuild, defence, civil defence and Leader of the House.

Nicky Wagner will take over the Christchurch regeneration task, which Brownlee has held since the first earthquakes in 2010, minister outside Cabinet Mark Mitchell will become Defence Minister and move into Cabinet, while Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy will pick up civil defence.

Simon Bridges will step up from his current role as deputy Leader of the House to replace Brownlee and supported by Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse.

The Minister for the Environment and Construction and Building, Nick Smith, will remain in place, but with a lighter load, despite widespread concern in the National Party caucus over his handling of the politically charged issues of housing and freshwater policy.

Social Housing Minister Amy Adams will pick up responsibility for the Crown land programme and government house-building programme, as well as the Tamaki Redevelopment Project.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

The changes effectively split execution of housing programmes and building regulation between Adams and Smith respectively.

Asked whether the plain-speaking Brownlee was sufficiently diplomatic for the role, English said he was “blunt when he needs to be, diplomatic when he needs to be”.

Two other MPs gain promotion to ministerial posts outside Cabinet. Chief government whip Tim Macindoe becomes Minister of Customs and an associate minister of education and transport, while the chair of the local and government and environment select committee, Scott Simpson, becomes Minister of Statistics and associate immigration and environment minister.

(BusinessDesk)

ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Business Headlines | Sci-Tech Headlines

 
GenPro: General Practices Begin Issuing Clause 14 Notices

GenPro has been copied into a rising number of Clause 14 notices issued since the NZNO lodged its Primary Practice Pay Equity Claim against General Practice employers in December 2023.More

SPADA: Screen Industry Unites For Streaming Platform Regulation & Intellectual Property Protections

In an unprecedented international collaboration, representatives of screen producing organisations from around the world have released a joint statement.More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.