Prime Minister Helen Clark has retained all her ministers in a reshuffle which delays big changes until after the victory she anticipates at next year's general election.
She has signalled, in some key portfolios, what those changes would be and said today her decisions were "a balance between continuity and
transition".
There are numerous shifts in secondary responsibilities, and the only ministers entirely unaffected are Health Minister Annette King, Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff and Police Minister George Hawkins.
However, Transport Minister Pete Hodgson has been given an associate health role and Miss Clark said Ms King was likely to "move to other areas" in a post-election cabinet.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard remains in that portfolio but David Benson-Pope, a former teacher, has been brought in as his associate with responsibility for the entire compulsory sector so he will be ready to take over post-election.
The cabinet will shrink from 20 to 18 because Miss Clark has not replaced Attorney-General Margaret Wilson or John Tamihere.
Ms Wilson will become Parliament's Speaker next year, and Mr Tamihere resigned while allegations about his golden handshake were investigated and the Serious Fraud Office inquires into issues within the Waipareira Trust.
Miss Clark said she needed room to move because she might need to accommodate a large coalition partner after the election.
"I've opted for indicating where the portfolios may go in the future," Miss Clark said at a press conference.
"I will be looking for change again after the election. You can see some transitional thinking in this line-up."
Miss Clark said all her ministers had been prepared to change their portfolios if she had asked them to.
"Key ministers have got fresh challenges. We've endeavoured to strike a balance between new projects and challenges and keeping continuity in critical social portfolios leading up to the election which is no longer than nine months away," she said.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen is taking over as attorney-general, and Miss Clark dismissed suggestions that the legal fraternity might be dismayed because he is not a lawyer.
Dr Cullen has also voiced criticism of the judiciary in recent months.
"They have the second most senior member of the Government taking a very direct interest in their area. I would think that is a substantial advantage," Miss Clark said.
Defence Minister Mark Burton is taking over Treaty of Waitangi negotiations, the other portfolio Ms Wilson held.
Miss Clark said she had full confidence Mr Burton could handle the delicate treaty portfolio. "I've known him for many years...he is very patient."
Social Services Minister Steve Maharey takes over science and technology from Mr Hodgson, and gives away tertiary education to Mr Mallard.
There are no changes in the cabinet rankings.
National, ACT and New Zealand First reacted predictably, saying nothing had changed and the cabinet had the same tired look about it.
"This is not so much a reshuffle but a failure by Helen Clark to identify the many shortcomings of her incumbent ministers," said National's deputy leader Gerry Brownlee.
ACT leader Rodney Hide described it as "rearranging the same sheep into different corners of the same paddock" and NZ First leader Winston Peters said Miss Clark should send out a search party for new talent.
New cabinet line released today with rankings and portfolios is:
Ministers
1 Rt Hon Helen Clark
Prime Minister
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
Ministerial Services
Minister in Charge of the NZ Security Intelligence Service
Minister Responsible for the GCSB
2 Hon Dr Michael Cullen
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Finance
Minister of Revenue
(Attorney-General designate)
Leader of the House
3 Hon Jim Anderton
Minister for Economic Development
Minister for Industry and Regional Development
Minister of Forestry
Minister Responsible for the Public Trust
Associate Minister of Health
4 Hon Steve Maharey
Minister for Social Development and Employment
Minister of Housing
Minister of Broadcasting
Minister of Research, Science and Technology
Minister for Crown Research Institutes
Minister of Youth Affairs
5 Hon Phil Goff
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Minister of Justice
Minister of Pacific Island Affairs
6 Hon Annette King
Minister of Health
Minister for Food Safety
7 Hon Jim Sutton
Minister of Agriculture
Minister for Biosecurity
Minister for Trade Negotiations
Associate Minister for Rural Affairs
8 Hon Trevor Mallard
Minister of Education (Tertiary, International and ECE)
Minister of State Services
Minister of Energy
Minister for Sport and Recreation
Coordinating Minister, Race Relations
Associate Minister of Finance
9 Hon Pete Hodgson
Minister of Transport
Minister of Commerce
Minister for Land Information
Minister of Statistics
Associate Minister of Health
Associate Minister for Industry and Regional Development
Convenor, Ministerial Group on Climate Change
10 Hon Margaret Wilson
Attorney-General [Includes responsibility for Serious Fraud Office]
Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
11 Hon Parekura Horomia
Minister of Maori Affairs
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment
Associate Minister of Education
Associate Minister of State Services
Associate Minister of Fisheries
Associate Minister of Youth Affairs
12 Hon George Hawkins
Minister of Police
Minister of Internal Affairs
Minister of Civil Defence
Minister of Veterans' Affairs
13 Hon Mark Burton
Minister of Defence
Minister of Tourism
(Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations designate)
Deputy Leader of the House
Associate Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
14 Hon Paul Swain
Minister of Labour
Minister of Immigration
Minister of Corrections
Minister for State Owned Enterprises
Associate Minister of Communications
Associate Minister for Information Technology
15 Hon Marian Hobbs
Minister for the Environment
Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control
Minister Responsible for Archives New Zealand
Minister Responsible for the National Library
Minister Responsible for the Law Commission
Associate Minister of Justice
Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Official Development Assistance)
Associate Minister for Biosecurity
Urban Affairs
16 Hon Ruth Dyson
Minister for ACC
Minister for Senior Citizens
Minister of Women's Affairs
Minister for Disability Issues
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF)
Associate Minister of Labour
17 Hon Chris Carter
Minister of Conservation
Minister of Local Government
Minister for Building Issues
Minister for Ethnic Affairs
18 Hon Rick Barker
Minister for Courts
Minister of Customs
Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector
Minister for Small Business
Associate Minister of Justice
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment
19 Hon David Benson-Pope
Minister of Fisheries
Minister Responsible for the Education Review Office
Associate Minister of Education, with responsibility for compulsory sector and special education
Associate Minister for the Environment
Associate Minister of Justice
Ministers Outside Cabinet
20 Hon Judith Tizard
Minister of Consumer Affairs
Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
Associate Minister of Commerce
Associate Minister of Transport
Auckland Issues
21 Hon Dover Samuels
Minister of State
Associate Minister for Economic Development
Associate Minister for Industry and Regional Development
Associate Minister of Housing
Associate Minister of Tourism
22 Hon Damien O'Connor
Minister for Racing
Minister for Rural Affairs
Associate Minister of Agriculture
Associate Minister of Health
Associate Minister of Immigration
23 Hon Harry Duynhoven
Minister for Transport Safety
Associate Minister of Energy
24 Hon Taito Phillip Field
Minister of State
Associate Minister of Justice
Associate Minister of Pacific Island Affairs
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment
25 Hon David Cunliffe
Minister of Communications
Minister for Information Technology
Associate Minister of Finance
Associate Minister of Revenue
Associate Minister for State Owned Enterprises
26 Mita Ririnui, MP
Minister of State
Associate Minister of Health
Associate Minister of Corrections
Associate Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
Associate Minister of Forestry
Parliamentary Under-Secretary
Mahara Okeroa, MP
Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Maori Affairs, Minister of Education and Minister of Conservation
- NZPA
Michael Cullen
Prime Minister Helen Clark has retained all her ministers in a reshuffle which delays big changes until after the victory she anticipates at next year's general election.
She has signalled, in some key portfolios, what those changes would be and said today her decisions were "a balance between continuity and
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