The Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins is the official Opposition in the 54th New Zealand Parliament. It comprises the members of the New Zealand Labour Party, which is the largest political party that is not a member of the government.
Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins | |
|---|---|
 Shadow Cabinet of New Zealand | |
| 27 November 2023 – Present | |
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| People and organisations | |
| Monarch | Charles III |
| Leader of the Opposition | Chris Hipkins |
| Deputy Leader of the Opposition | Carmel Sepuloni |
| Member party | |
| Status in legislature | Official Opposition |
| History | |
| Legislature term | 54th New Zealand Parliament |
| Predecessor | Shadow Cabinet of Christopher Luxon |
Labour leader Chris Hipkins announced his shadow cabinet on 30 November 2023, after the formation of the Sixth National Government.
History
editFormation
editOn 7 November 2023 the Labour caucus re-elected Hipkins as leader and elected Carmel Sepuloni deputy leader after Kelvin Davis declined to remain in the role. Labour's senior and junior whips, Tangi Utikere and Camilla Belich respectively, were re-elected. Hipkins deferred announcing portfolio assignments until after the incoming government was formed.[1] On 29 November it was revealed that Grant Robertson and Ayesha Verrall would hold the finance and health portfolios, with the remainder to be announced the following day.[2]
Many former ministers in the Hipkins-led Sixth Labour Government continued in their portfolios, but in opposition. These included Sepuloni in social development, Megan Woods in energy and resources, Willie Jackson in Māori development and broadcasting, Kieran McAnulty in local government and regional development, Ginny Andersen in police, Jan Tinetti in education and women, and Barbara Edmonds in economic development. Duncan Webb picked up the justice portfolio and David Parker became spokesperson for foreign affairs. McAnulty also secured the housing portfolio and was named Shadow Leader of the House. All 34 members of the caucus were assigned at least one portfolio but the highest-ranked member who had not previously served as a minister was senior whip Tangi Utikere, at 21, who was also assigned the transport portfolio.[3]
Subsequent changes
editOn 15 December 2023, Davis (spokesperson for Māori–Crown relations and Treaty of Waitangi negotiations) announced that he would retire from Parliament effective Waitangi Day on 6 February 2024.[4] On 29 January 2024, Rino Tirikatene (spokesperson for corrections and land information) announced that he would retire from Parliament that weekend.[5] The resignations of Davis and Tirikatene allowed Shanan Halbert and Tracey McLellan to reenter Parliament on the Labour Party list.[6] On 20 February 2024, Robertson (spokesperson for finance and racing) announced that he would be resigning the following month to take up the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago. Robertson's resignation allowed Glen Bennett to reenter Parliament on the Labour Party list.[7]
Hipkins addressed the three resignations in a reshuffle on the same day as Robertson's resignation. Barbara Edmonds was promoted into the finance portfolio, Damien O'Connor and Tangi Utikere took over the land information and racing portfolios, Ginny Andersen assumed the Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations portfolio, Peeni Henare the Māori–Crown Relations portfolio, Shanan Halbert the Auckland and rainbow issues portfolios, and McLellan the corrections and associate health portfolios. Bennett assumed the economic development and associate energy portfolios after reentering Parliament on 25 March 2024.[8][6]
List of spokespersons
editThe list of portfolio spokespersons, as of 25 March 2024, is as follows.[9]
| Rank | Spokesperson | Portfolio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rt Hon Chris Hipkins | Leader of the Opposition Spokesperson for Ministerial Services Spokesperson for National Security and Intelligence | |
| 2 | Hon Carmel Sepuloni | Deputy Leader of the Opposition Spokesperson for Social Development Spokesperson for Pacific Peoples Spokesperson for Child Poverty Reduction | |
| 3 | Hon Megan Woods | Spokesperson for Climate Change Spokesperson for Energy Spokesperson for Resources Associate Spokesperson for Finance | |
| 4 | Hon Barbara Edmonds | Spokesperson for Finance Spokesperson for Infrastructure | |
| 5 | Hon Willie Jackson | Spokesperson for Māori Development Spokesperson for Broadcasting and Media Spokesperson for Employment Associate Spokesperson for Housing Associate Spokesperson for Workplace Relations and Safety | |
| 6 | Hon Ayesha Verrall | Spokesperson for Health Spokesperson for Public Service Spokesperson for Wellington Issues | |
| 7 | Hon Kieran McAnulty | Shadow Leader of the House Spokesperson for Housing Spokesperson for Local Government Spokesperson for Regional Development | |
| 8 | Hon Willow-Jean Prime | Spokesperson for Children Spokesperson for Youth Associate Spokesperson for Education (Māori) | |
| 9 | Hon Ginny Andersen | Spokesperson for Police Spokesperson for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Spokesperson for Social Investment Associate Spokesperson for Social Development Spokesperson for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations | |
| 10 | Hon Jan Tinetti | Spokesperson for Education Spokesperson for Women | |
| 11 | Hon Peeni Henare | Spokesperson for Defence Spokesperson for Sport and Recreation Associate Spokesperson for Health Spokesperson for Māori-Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti | |
| 12 | Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan | Spokesperson for Conservation Spokesperson for Disability Issues Spokesperson for the NZSIS Spokesperson for the GCSB | |
| 13 | Hon Jo Luxton | Spokesperson for Agriculture Spokesperson for Biosecurity Spokesperson for Rural Communities | |
| 14 | Hon Duncan Webb | Deputy Shadow Leader of the House Spokesperson for Justice Spokesperson for Regulation Spokesperson for Earthquake Commission Spokesperson for Christchurch Issues | |
| 15 | Hon Deborah Russell | Spokesperson for Revenue Spokesperson for Science, Innovation and Technology Associate Spokesperson for Education (Tertiary) | |
| 16 | Hon Rachel Brooking | Spokesperson for the Environment Spokesperson for Food Safety Spokesperson for Space | |
| 17 | Hon Damien O'Connor | Spokesperson for Trade Spokesperson for Land Information Associate Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Associate Spokesperson for Transport | |
| 18 | Hon David Parker | Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Shadow Attorney General Spokesperson for Electoral Reform | |
| 19 | Tangi Utikere | Chief Whip Spokesperson for Transport Spokesperson for the Oceans and Fisheries Spokesperson for Racing Associate Spokesperson for Education (Pacific) | |
| 20 | Camilla Belich | Junior Whip Spokesperson for Workplace Relations and Safety Spokesperson for Emergency Management | |
| 21 | Arena Williams | Assistant Whip Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Spokesperson for Building and Construction Spokesperson for State Owned Enterprises | |
| 22 | Hon Phil Twyford | Spokesperson for Immigration Spokesperson for Disarmament and Arms Control Associate Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs | |
| 23 | Greg O'Connor | Assistant Speaker of the House of Representatives Spokesperson for Courts Spokesperson for Veterans | |
| 24 | Hon Jenny Salesa | Spokesperson for Ethnic Communities Spokesperson for Customs | |
| 25 | Rachel Boyack | Spokesperson for ACC Spokesperson for Arts, Culture and Heritage Spokesperson for Animal Welfare | |
| 26 | Rt Hon Adrian Rurawhe | Spokesperson for Whānau Ora Associate Spokesperson for Māori Development | |
| 27 | Helen White | Spokesperson for the Community and Voluntary Sector Spokesperson for Small Business and Manufacturing Associate Spokesperson for Justice | |
| 28 | Ingrid Leary | Spokesperson for Seniors Spokesperson for Mental Health | |
| 29 | Lemauga Lydia Sosene | Spokesperson for Internal Affairs Associate Spokesperson for Pacific Peoples Associate Spokesperson for Social Development and Employment | |
| 30 | Reuben Davidson | Spokesperson for Statistics Spokesperson for the Digital Economy and Communications Associate Spokesperson for Broadcasting and Media | |
| 31 | Cushla Tangaere-Manuel | Spokesperson for Tourism and Hospitality Spokesperson for Forestry Spokesperson for Cyclone Recovery | |
| 32 | Tracey McLellan | Spokesperson for Corrections Associate Spokesperson for Health | |
| 33 | Shanan Halbert | Spokesperson for Auckland Issues Spokesperson for Rainbow Issues | |
| 34 | Glen Bennett | Spokesperson for Economic Development Associate Spokesperson for Energy | |
Policies
editDefence
editIn February 2024, Labour reversed its previous support for New Zealand entering the non-nuclear component of the AUKUS, with foreign affairs spokesperson Phil Twyford describing it as an "offensive warfighting alliance against China."[10]
Foreign policy
editIn April 2024, Labour called for New Zealand to recognise Palestinian statehood. During the 2023 general election, Labour had campaigned on inviting a Palestinian representative to become an ambassador to New Zealand but had canceled it following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on 7 October 2023.[11]
References
edit- ^ Coughlan, Thomas; Pearse, Adam (7 November 2023). "Chris Hipkins stays as Labour leader, Carmel Sepuloni takes over deputy from Kelvin Davis". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "Christopher Luxon's lack of control of Winston Peters 'does not bode well for future' - Hipkins". Radio New Zealand. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins reveals new shadow Cabinet". Radio New Zealand. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "Labour MP Kelvin Davis' message to National as he leaves politics: 'Back to the bad old times'". Radio New Zealand. 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Labour's Rino Tirikatene retires from politics". Radio New Zealand. 29 January 2024. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Labour reshuffle: Edmonds moves up as Finance spokesperson". Radio New Zealand. 20 February 2024. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ Rilkoff, Matthew (19 February 2024). "Former New Plymouth Labour MP Glen Bennett back in Parliament". Stuff. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ "Grant Robertson retires from politics, appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago". The New Zealand Herald. 20 February 2024. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Our Team". New Zealand Labour Party. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ Pennington, Phil (12 February 2024). "AUKUS a military pact designed to contain China, says Labour". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ Manch, Thomas (22 April 2024). "Labour calls for the Government to recognise Palestine". The Post. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.