The new cabinet

41 comments on “The new cabinet ”

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1. roy cartland 1

   25 October 2017 at 12:11 pm

   I seriously hope NZF can shelve their smacking-referendum with Tracy Martin as Min4Kids. Don’t need that spectre raised again.
   • Karen 1.1

     25 October 2017 at 2:04 pm

     Don’t worry – that was a throw away dog whistle policy that was brought up during their campaign but that they knew they would never get. In fact, I would put money on it never once being raised during coalition talks.

     You can now confidently ignore all NZF policy that hasn’t been included in the coalition agreement.
2. Ad 2

   25 October 2017 at 1:12 pm

   Gutsy risk by Ardern to take on that “Child Poverty Reduction” portfolio knowing she will be held to account for measurable fall in child poverty at the next election.

   Great to see Little get substantial stuff.

   Twyford looks like he’s the new Robert Moses.

   Job to envy:
   Shane Jones gets Minister of Regional Economic Development. 3 years to spend $1 billion dollars.
   • mac1 2.1

     25 October 2017 at 1:49 pm

     Some things are more important than the risk involved. Progress involves risk.

     Ardern’s move here is placing a very large marker as to where her priorities are.

     Good for her.

     Child poverty should be anathema to any on the left.

     And for many on the right.

     Only the blamers, the scrooges, the narcissistic, the truly selfish could see otherwise.
     • UncookedSelachimorpha 2.1.1

       25 October 2017 at 2:07 pm

       Yep, I’m very impressed with Ardern for this one. Good stuff.
       • cleangreen 2.1.1.1

         25 October 2017 at 9:52 pm

         100% US. me too.
   • cleangreen 2.2

     25 October 2017 at 9:51 pm

     Yes Ad,

     I really like phil as he is very feisty and good at handling agnostics like Joyce, parliament will now be an intersting specticle.
3. ianmac 3

   25 October 2017 at 1:31 pm

   And Trevor Mallard for Speaker?
   • veutoviper 3.1

     25 October 2017 at 1:41 pm

     Speaker is not part of Cabinet. Election of Speaker of the House is part of the formalities of the first day a new Parliament meets.

     https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/office-of-the-speaker/role-history-of-the-speaker/role-election-of-the-speaker/#7

     I very much doubt that Mallard’s election will be contested or anyone else proposed, and he has been an assistant Speaker since 2014.
     http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10642923/Trevor-Mallard-elected-assistant-Speaker

     http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/82433937/Labour-MP-Trevor-Mallard-vacates-Hutt-South-electorate-to-apply-for-Speaker-position

     https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/labour-party-back-mp-trevor-mallard-next-parliamentary-speaker
4. Karen 4

   25 October 2017 at 2:18 pm

   Māori MPs have 18 portfolios between them and Nanaia Mahuta becomes the first woman to get Māori Development (used to be Māori Affairs). Out of the 28 Ministers 8 are Māori – the most ever. Also, there are 4 Pasifika Ministers. Still not enough women – 10 out of 28.

   Andrew Little gets the Treaty Negotiations portfolio and this has been positively received by Māori who work in this area. Some have suggested it should be a Māori MP but, as Morgan Godfrey has said, whakapapa can make this a tricky role – perception-wise if not in reality.
   • weka 4.1

     25 October 2017 at 2:55 pm

     always appreciate your insight into Māori politics.

     Glad that Little has an important role in the new govt.
   • Matthew Whitehead 4.2

     25 October 2017 at 3:50 pm

     I’m glad that at least he’s been positively received. Seemed like a bit of an outside pick, and if you were going to give the role to someone Pakeha, that Parker would have been the obvious choice.
     • Karen 4.2.1

       25 October 2017 at 4:24 pm

       Andrew has excellent negotiating skills from his time as head of EPMU and later as Labour Party leader managing to unite a fractious caucus. Parker, not so much.

       It may seem strange having a Pākehā in this role when there are so many Māori MPs but the problem is that you would need to exclude anyone with whakapapa links to the outstanding settlements and this, coupled with not giving cabinet positions to new MPs, means the choice gets very limited. The new ministerial position of Crown/Māori relationships is the post that absolutely need to be with Māori, and it is.
   • tracey 4.3

     25 October 2017 at 4:01 pm

     Thanks Karen

     I am a lil concerned at how big Shane Jones ego will be with all those things to control…

     Thrilled for Little and NZ over his appointments. His union work and brief time as Leader will serve him well with Pike River
     • Karen 4.3.1

       25 October 2017 at 5:57 pm

       Could Shane Jones’ ego get any bigger without his head exploding?

       I am pleased with what he hasn’t got – Trade or Foreign Affairs would have meant him swanning around with a credit card embarrassing NZ on a world stage.
5. mosa 5

   25 October 2017 at 2:27 pm

   Good to see Sage getting associate minister for the environment.

   I thought Little would have got employment relations but he is going to be very busy with Justice and the spies.

   Curran may be a lightweight when it comes to the broadcasting portfolio and digital services.
   A hardhitter would have been better and signal that we need change in this area.

   Good to see Michael Wood as parliamentary under secretary for ethnic affairs.
   His move to the cabinet will be sooner rather than later.

   Shane Jones will be busy planting millions of trees…..that will be a minister to watch.

   Tracey Martin will make her prescence felt in the childrens area.

   A good strong cabinet and executive council to start making those changes…well done Jacinda.
   • Anne 5.1

     25 October 2017 at 3:21 pm

     Shane Jones will be busy planting millions of trees…..that will be a minister to watch.

     You mean watching him plant trees?
     • tracey 5.1.1

       25 October 2017 at 4:05 pm

       😉
     • Nick 5.1.2

       25 October 2017 at 6:16 pm

       Shane Jones watches stuff, so we were told…..
       • Anne 5.1.2.1

         25 October 2017 at 6:43 pm

         😀
     • mosa 5.1.3

       25 October 2017 at 7:13 pm

       Knowing Mr Jones he will supervising.

       He is as laid back as a recliner.
   • cleangreen 5.2

     25 October 2017 at 9:56 pm

     10% MOSA I think Jacinda s goig from strength to strength. I am impressed.
6. mosa 6

   25 October 2017 at 2:38 pm

   Who is cabinet secretary ???
   • Anne 6.1

     25 October 2017 at 6:44 pm

     Isn’t the cabinet secretary a public servant – not one of the pollies?
     • mosa 6.1.1

       25 October 2017 at 7:09 pm

       Yes Anne you are right.

       Just asking out of interest.
7. Carolyn_nth 7

   25 October 2017 at 2:44 pm

   I did think Andrew Little would get the spy/intelligence agencies – sensible – with responsibility to Ardern as Minister for Intelligence and Security.

   Surprise that Genter gets Minister for Women and not Logie.
   • Matthew Whitehead 7.1

     25 October 2017 at 6:03 pm

     That’s definitely a surprise, given that it’s long been Logie’s role, but it makes me wonder if this was simply an equation around the fact that they only wanted to give the Greens three ministers in terms of picking Julie Anne and giving Jan Logie the undersecretary role, given that Jan is the one with the actual experience in that portfolio. That said, she’ll be stoked to be representing the interests of survivors of sexual and domestic violence, and Julie Anne is also a pretty fierce feminist and will be a great advocate for women too, so I don’t think it’s a bad pick at all.
8. Matthew Whitehead 8

   25 October 2017 at 2:51 pm

   Not a huge fan of Little as Treaty Negotiations Minister. I suppose as Justice Minister it’s technically within his wheelhouse, but it sends the wrong sort of signals in 2017 for a Labour government to put a Pakeha in charge of treaty negotiations. There’s also not the excuse that the AG is typically heavily involved in Treaty Negotiations, because Parker is the AG. Not one of the options I had anticipated there.

   That said, Davis being in charge of post-negotiation relations, and the establishment of that portfolio too, sends an excellent signal, so the two may balance nicely.

   They managed to not give O’Connor anything he could screw up, although as expected Police went to someone who totally shouldn’t have the portfolio. Curran is still in Cabinet for some reason, and needs to be moved on ASAP.

   Other than that though, I largely endorse the lineup, the only thing I’m a little iffy on in terms of NZF is giving Tracy Martin DIA. She’s one of the best sorts in NZF, but it’s not a party that I feel hugely comfortable having a main Internal Affairs minister from.

   Great roles for all the Green Ministers, having Salesa on building and construction should be good, and it looks like they have indeed split up MBIE between Nash, Woods, Jackson and Twyford.

   There are a surprising amount of associate finance ministers, though. I don’t think any portfolio has previously had this many, right?
   • tracey 8.1

     25 October 2017 at 4:06 pm

     Turei would have been a great candidate for Treaty Negotiations
     • Matthew Whitehead 8.1.1

       25 October 2017 at 4:08 pm

       Listen, if you want to make me cry you don’t have to mention the former Queen’s name, you can just wave a raw onion in front of my face. :'(
       • cleangreen 8.1.1.1

         25 October 2017 at 9:58 pm

         Ha ha ha, LOL
9. Kat 9

   25 October 2017 at 3:27 pm

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=80&v=BDlupaHDWyM
   Been humming this all day long…………………………….
10. Matthew Whitehead 10

    25 October 2017 at 4:10 pm

    First test coming up for Carmel Sepuloni and Peeni Henare the day after they’re sworn in, btw- apparently MSD is going to court on Friday to sue people to say that money borrowed to feed their children counts as income. Hopeful that new ministers will instruct this case to be dropped and order a review of all other similar cases in advance of their dropping punitive welfare rules.

    edit: See also this thread on twitter by Russel Brown:
    https://twitter.com/publicaddress/status/923024292408782848

    Pretty monstrous stuff.
    • eco Maori/kiwi 10.1

      25 October 2017 at 5:56 pm

      Good link Matthew how does someone become a crown lawyer with that logical way of thinking . Answer national have been in power for 9 years and there neo liberal logic is that beneficiarty’s are not Human.
      • Matthew Whitehead 10.1.1

        25 October 2017 at 11:41 pm

        Speaking as someone who’s worked in insurance… you convince them that financial obligations and legal technicalities are more important than human lives. Putting aside the situations where you’re obliged not to help people is literally part of the job in certain professions. It’s distressingly easy to train yourself to think that way, it’s the same thing we do when we train ourselves to me okay eating meat, or other things that are ethically grey.

        It’s just so ridiculously out of proportion and lacking in all perspective regarding their actual obligations to help people. If someone needs to borrow money to survive on a benefit, that’s a failing of MSD, not some sort of scheme to hide “income” from them, and they shouldn’t be suing people on the off chance they win the lottery, that’s insane and not worth the actual costs. There are points you need to realise that the rules are broken and need to be changed, and there are sometimes when the rules seem wrong when you see an individual case but overall they’re working as they should. This is the former, not the latter.
    • Karen 10.2

      25 October 2017 at 6:04 pm

      Probably too late to stop this case going ahead given they are only sworn in tomorrow but hopefully they will stop any more cases that are underway getting any further.

      Monstrous stuff indeed.
      • Matthew Whitehead 10.2.1

        25 October 2017 at 11:48 pm

        If they’re up to date on these cases, (and people following them have been contacting the new Minister and her associate) then they can simply order their lawyers to drop the case and put all similar cases on review pending consistency with their new policies. Even if for some reason they can’t instruct the ministry in time to drop proceedings on Friday, if things aren’t fully resolved that day they can always instruct them to settle the cases in a way that doesn’t require repayment.

        That is of course, assuming they take their promise to the Greens to stop excessive penalties seriously.

        I won’t hold it against her if she doesn’t succeed in stopping these particular cases due to time constraints, so long as Minister Sepuloni tries something, and manages to stop future ones from going ahead.
    • Craig H 10.3

      25 October 2017 at 8:13 pm

      Soft loans (loans from family with no repayment terms or interest) can be considered taxable income, so I guess I can vaguely see where the family loans might be income, but really, if they paid it back, it clearly wasn’t a soft loan.

      That aside, that is almost cartoonishly evil.
11. rhinocrates 11

    25 October 2017 at 6:05 pm

    Hipkins, Education. Phuque, as Chaucer would say. Not a surprise, but fucking fucketey fuck.

    How about a fucking scholar, someone who knows and appreciates what fucking universities are fucking for, instead of this cocksucking backstabbing Mallard Mini-Me, fuck it!?

    Jesus tap-dancing Christ in a sidecar!

    And Robertson? Minister of Doing Nothing and Taking Credit for Other People’s Work is too much. Minister of Compost is too much, but i understand that this is politics. Fuck.

    Also: Shit!

    And Fuck!

    Also Fuck!

    And Fuck!

    So there!

    Well, if it keeps his knives sheathed, okay…

    But he’s still a toxic, parasitic prick.

    (Oh, and if anyone wants to criticise me me for using the f-word too much: fuck fuck fuck fuckety fucking fuck… and fuck. Alright, I’m trolling. To quote Oscar Wilde {really}, good taste is the first refuge of the witless)

    OK, not to be a complete misery-guts, while I saw that Little was a hopeless leader, I am very pleased to see his new posting. It shows great maturity by Jacinda Ardern. Also, Ron Marks’ appointment as MoD is fully appropriate. Winston Peter’s appointment as DPM was obvious, but his re-appointment as MoFA is great.

    Pablo’s cautions about the need for appropriate talent and experience in defence and intelligence portfolios have been answered, I think.

    I am disappointed by the Greens’ relative lack of influence, but I really respect their understanding of the long game.

    The fact is, as a far-left liberal (is there such a thing?), I’d love to have my utopia achieved, and unicorns and chocolate and box sets of Twin Peaks for all, I nonetheless understand that there is a real conservative streak to NZ society, and that streak is served by NZ1st, not National. Now I hope that it works!

    So in balance, HOORAY!
12. eco Maori/kiwi 12

    25 October 2017 at 6:08 pm

    I’m not up with the play of whom has the skills to do what . But what I would like to no that all the members of our new government have been given a briefing of all the shady people that will try and trip them up set them up all sorts of tricks will be coming at them so be on your toes people. ka pai
13. rhinocrates 13

    25 October 2017 at 6:20 pm

    Good for Nanaia!

    She’s been much disparaged by racists such as Screechy McHooton (he may deny that he’s a racist, but he can’t say or write the word “Maori” without prefixing it with “lazy” and “stupid”), but she has a good rep with her constituents.

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