NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

New Labour line-up to be unveiled next week

By Herald Online staff
NZ Herald·
13 Dec, 2011 12:57 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

David Shearer with Grant Robertson after the caucus vote at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell

David Shearer with Grant Robertson after the caucus vote at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell

New Labour leader David Shearer expects to have his shadow portfolios organised by next week.

The former aid worker took over as leader this morning, having successfully fought off David Cunliffe for the party's top job.

He says he's proud and humbled to have been voted Labour's new leader and today vowed to create a "clean, green, clever New Zealand" while "rejuvenating" Labour.

The former aid worker also committed to giving Mr Cunliffe a senior position in the party, despite the former finance spokesman pushing Mr Shearer hard for the party leadership.

Mr Shearer's deputy will be Grant Robertson.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The numbers in today's vote weren't revealed and the ballot papers have been destroyed.

"There's only one person in this room who knows the numbers and she's not telling," Mr Shearer said. He admitted "the last two weeks have felt like a lifetime."

His priority in the next few weeks is to get out and talk to New Zealanders about how the party can reconnect with the county.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He intends handing out portfolios before Parliament sits next week, but confirmed "there will be change, I can guarantee that."

He wanted Labour to"come out of this process more energised and unified".

Mr Shearer also wants to work closely with opposition parties, saying Labour has become "a little old-fashioned in its outlook".

Mr Shearer said Labour had lost a lot of its connections with the public, and his first priority as leader would be to get out and talk to New Zealanders about how to reestablish those links.

Discover more

Opinion

Tapu Misa: Secret of successful schools of concern to us all

11 Dec 04:30 PM
New Zealand|politics

Labour to broaden front bench make-up

11 Dec 04:30 PM
New Zealand|politics

Bryce Edwards: Political round-up: December 12

12 Dec 01:53 AM
Cartoons

Cartoon: Labour's total eclipse

12 Dec 04:30 PM

"I want to start by looking at New Zealand through a new lens of creating a clean, green, clever New Zealand, and that's my vision.''

"I am a fresh face for Labour, and I represent a fresh start for New Zealand. When I asked my colleagues for their confidence, I asked for a mandate for change. I think we need to listen much harder, I think we need to work harder in a more unified way.''

Asked what Prime Minister John Key's weaknesses were, Mr Shearer said he would not go into that.

"He's a great communicator, he's obviously very popular, I'm hoping to bring a difference to the mix and something that will appeal to New Zealanders,'' he said.

The full Labour line-up is expected to be named by next week, with Mr Shearer aiming to hand out portfolios in time for the first Parliament sitting.

"I have not promised anybody anything in the course of this campaign, I want to look at each on their merit and their talent, and of course on the balance of what we need in the party.''

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Chris Hipkins has been named as the party's senior whip, and Darien Fenton the junior whip.

When asked what his deputy brought to the table, Mr Robertson interjected to say "Good looks'', before Mr Shearer paid tribute to other qualities.

"Apart from his good looks, he brings a lot of experience of working in the party, working in the Prime Minister's office, working in ministers' offices, working here in the Opposition as well in the responsible roles, in many ways he compliments some of the things I bring as well," Mr Shearer said.

Today's meeting began at 9.45, starting with a farewell for outgoing MPs Brendon Burns and Raymond Huo before Phil Goff presented his final report as leader.

Mr Shearer's camp yesterday reported that it had the numbers to take the vote with a few to spare after the final flurry of lobbying to try to secure the undecided MPs.

Two of the 34 MPs - Maryan Street and Charles Chauvel - had proxy votes because they are overseas.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The winner needed at least 18 votes and Mr Shearer's camp believed last night he had at least 20. However, he said was wary about MPs changing their minds or going against their promises in the privacy of the secret ballot.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Police investigating unexplained death after discovery of man’s body in Northland

09 May 06:18 AM
Politics

'Shame on you Brooke': Hundreds brave downpours to protest Govt’s pay equity changes

09 May 06:16 AM
New Zealand

MetService Severe Weather Update - Friday 9 May

One tiny baby’s fight to survive

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Police investigating unexplained death after discovery of man’s body in Northland

Police investigating unexplained death after discovery of man’s body in Northland

09 May 06:18 AM

The property has been cordoned off and a police guard is in place.

'Shame on you Brooke': Hundreds brave downpours to protest Govt’s pay equity changes

'Shame on you Brooke': Hundreds brave downpours to protest Govt’s pay equity changes

09 May 06:16 AM
Flights delayed at Auckland Airport as intense rain batters city, sparking surface flooding

Flights delayed at Auckland Airport as intense rain batters city, sparking surface flooding

09 May 05:38 AM
Avondale man accused of murdering partner loses name suppression

Avondale man accused of murdering partner loses name suppression

09 May 05:38 AM
Connected workers are safer workers 
sponsored

Connected workers are safer workers 

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP