April 12, 2023
Willow-Jean Prime joins cabinet
Northland MP Willow Jean Prime has been promoted into cabinet.
She replaces Stuart Nash, who resigned in disgrace from all his portfolios after revealing he had leaked cabinet information to political donors.
Ms Prime holds the Conservation and Youth portfolios and is an associate minister for Health and Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says she was ready to step up.
“It was a combination of her skills as a person and the portfolios that she currently holds. Willow’s got up to speed very quickly with the new portfolios I gave her when I did the reshuffle a couple of months ago and I’m confident she will be an active contributor around the cabinet table,” he says.
Peeni Henare gets the Forestry portfolio, Barbara Edmonds is the new Minister for Economic Development and Meka Whaitiri picked up Mr Nash’s role as Minister Responsible for Cyclone Recovery in Hawke’s Bay.
Rachel Brooking, who chairs the Finance and Expenditure Committee, will become a Minister outside Cabinet, picking up Oceans and Fisheries.
Willow-Jean Prime’s promotion means Cabinet has a 50-50 gender balance for the first time.
It also means there are seven Māori ministers inside cabinet and two outside.