KEY POINTS:
Maryan Street has been tipped as Cabinet material since she first entered Parliament just two years ago - and yesterday she became one of four new ministers - three in Cabinet - selected as part of the fresh face of Labour.
Of the newcomers, Ms Street was awarded
the most weighty portfolios, including Housing and the Accident Compensation Corporation.
It will see her take over the Government's big push on affordable housing as well as its programme to rebuild the state housing package.
Ms Street is comfortable with her new posts, saying the allocations play to her strengths and the work she did before entering Parliament.
She was on the Housing New Zealand board from 2000 to 2005 and gained a good knowledge of ACC while working in industrial relations, lecturing at Auckland University, and working as the employment relations manager for District Health Boards NZ from 1999 until 2005.
She says her portfolios are "appropriately challenging" for her.
"I don't feel weighted down by it [the Cabinet role], but I feel very conscious of the responsibility."
The most daunting initial hurdle is the first question from the Opposition she will face in Parliament.
She says it will be nerve-racking, but "I enjoy the theatre. I'm determined not to be intimidated by it." As to whether she is quick on her feet, "we will find out".
While Chris Carter - whom Ms Street takes over from - has already set up the brunt of housing affordability policy, and a bill is ready for introduction within three weeks, it is Ms Street who will be required to sell it to the public and keep the momentum up.
"There is nothing more important to New Zealand families than having secure, affordable housing.
"And if I am in a position to advance that, then I will be delighted."
She will also have to oversee state housing - an area where National MP Phil Heatley has made some hits, forcing an inquiry into the timeliness and effectiveness of investigations into rorts of the system and picking away at the waiting list.
Ms Street says she has worked with Mr Heatley in a select committee inquiry into housing affordability and "we see things differently on a number of fronts".
"I'm looking forward to taking on Mr Heatley. We've always got on well in the past and I'm sure that's about to end, but never mind."
In ACC, she faces Pansy Wong and she is certain that the issue of privatisation of the system versus the state ACC system will rear its head near election time.
"It is a good fit for me, in that I'm very committed to the state's role in that way, and not having a system of suing."
She will also have the guiding hand of senior minister Pete Hodgson for her associate minister roles in tertiary education and economic development.
Ms Street is also hoping to take the Nelson electorate back from National's Nick Smith. She declares it a "natural Labour seat" although Mr Smith has held it for three terms.
Ms Street is the partner of Prime Minister Helen Clark's press secretary Kathryn Street, and has a teenage daughter.
Her rapid elevation is partly recognition of her long experience in the political world. Now in her early 50s, she has been a member of the Labour Party since 1984 and was its president from 1993 to 1995 - during which time Helen Clark rolled Mike Moore as leader.
She has also been involved in various unions since 1981, when she was a secondary school teacher.
