Shadow_Cabinet_of_Chris_Hipkins

Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins

Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins

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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.

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Labour leader Chris Hipkins announced his shadow cabinet on 30 November 2023, after the formation of the Sixth National Government.

History

Formation

On 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 defered 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

On 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

The list of portfolio spokespersons, as of 25 March 2024, is as follows.[9]

More information Rank, Spokesperson ...

Policies

Defence

In 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

In 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

  1. [1]
    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.
  2. [2]
    "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.
  3. [3]
    "Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins reveals new shadow Cabinet". Radio New Zealand. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  4. [4]
    "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.
  5. [5]
    "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.
  6. [6]
    "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.
  7. [7]
    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.
  8. [8]
    "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.
  9. [9]
    "Our Team". New Zealand Labour Party. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  10. [10]
    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.
  11. [11]
    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.
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