February 01, 2023
Māori caucus rises in ranks
Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson says Labour’s Maori caucus has done incredibly well in Chris Hipkins’ cabinet reshuffle, with an unprecedented eight now having ministerial responsibilities.
Mr Jackson moved onto the front bench, going from 14 to 9 in the rankings.
He says Justice Minister Kiritapu Allen was another big winner, moving from 16 to 10 and adding Regional Development to her workload.
MP Willow Jean Prime was given the Conservation and Youth portfolios outside cabinet, Rino Tirikatene also stepped up to ministerial rank, and Jo Luxton was given undersecretary roles in Education and Agriculture.
“And we’ve got Shanan Halbert who has come in as a whip so you’ve got a Maori caucus that has done incredibly well and of course led by our man from the north, Kelvin Davis, who continues in his leadership position so from an overall sense really proud how our Maori caucus has worked in with the main party. Eight ministers, can’t complain too much about that,” Mr Jackson says.
Mr Jackson says he appreciates the confidence the new prime minister has shown in him, including leaving him with the Broadcasting portfolio.