Key and English rewarded, Smith tipped off

Two possible contenders for the National Party leadership have been promoted by leader Don Brash in a reshuffle he says will "take the attack" to a tired and discredited Government.

Party finance spokesman John Key is promoted from seventh to fourth spot and former leader Bill English jumps a place to third and keeps the education spokesmanship.

Dr Brash intends contesting the 2008 election as leader, but there are doubts his caucus will let him, with Mr Key being tagged with the leader-in-waiting label and Mr English a possible contender as well.

Another big line-up change is Murray McCully getting foreign affairs and trade, a role that will see him facing new Foreign Minister Winston Peters in Parliament.

Mr McCully also gets defence, which has been taken off John Carter. He also gets conservation from Simon Power.

Mr Power was demoted from third to seventh but picks up the high-profile law and order portfolio from Tony Ryall, who gets the health portfolio from lowly ranked Paul Hutchison.

Dr Brash said he had signalled health's importance by moving the portfolio to the front bench and giving it to one of National's top performers, although it was no reflection on Dr Hutchison.

"Sometimes a person who would make an outstanding Cabinet minister in government is not the best suited to an attack role in opposition," Dr Brash said.

In an unusual move, Wayne Mapp gets the role of "political correctness eradication" and several other MPs get "liaison" roles with groups like rural communities, Pacific Island and Asian New Zealanders, and women's groups.

Dr Brash has also given himself responsibility for "relationships with non-government parties".

One big loser is foreign affairs and trade spokesman Lockwood Smith, who as well as seeing his role go to Mr McCully, gets demoted from the front bench to 12th and gets immigration, revenue, associate finance and a liaison role with expatriates instead.

Dr Smith concealed his disappointment last night by describing Dr Brash's decision to pit Mr McCully against Mr Peters as strategically smart.

The change may remove the nuclear debate from the table. Mr McCully is believed to have opposed any bid to change New Zealand's anti-nuclear status, as a subject unlikely to woo votes, whereas Dr Smith is a backer of change.

But Dr Smith said he did not believe he lost the portfolio because of his role in claims that National had secretly told American politicians it would change the nuclear-free legislation.

Dr Brash said Dr Smith had not wanted to lose his role, but he as leader had thought it desirable.

"I was keen that he was heavily involved in revenue to start with, and I thought it was also time for a new face."

Mr McCully admitted it would be a "major step up" for him to take on Mr Peters.

"I'm aware of the fact that I've spent quite a bit of time in the backroom in the last few years and I'm going to have to play a different role."

Dr Brash also reintroduces women to the front bench. Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins is elevated from 12th to eighth. Katherine Rich, demoted for disagreeing with aspects of National's welfare policies, returns and jumps one place to ninth spot.

Ms Rich gets economic development, pitting her against senior minister Trevor Mallard.

Dr Brash said one of the features of the reshuffle was Mr Key's promotion, saying he was an "important part of the leadership team" with Mr English and deputy leader Gerry Brownlee.

Mr Key had been rewarded for a sound election that saw him "outclass" Finance Minister Michael Cullen.

Dr Cullen, the Acting Prime Minister, scoffed at the comment, noting he was still in the Beehive and Mr Key was not.

Dr Cullen said National's line-up did not strike "fear and trembling" into the Government.

Dr Brash had shuffled the "potential assassins" to keep them off-balance, noting the promotion of Mr Key and Mr English as well as Mr Power's demotion.

"That probably won't save him in the slightly longer term and obviously we look forward to the National Party's leadership struggles over the coming year or two."

Only three of National's crop of 23 new MPs - Tim Groser, Chris Finlayson and former NZ First Cabinet minister Tau Henare - make it into the numbered rankings, which go down only to number 27, leaving all the rest unranked.

Foreign Affairs and Trade
Murray McCully v Winston Peters

What Winston Peters doesn't know about foreign affairs, Murray McCully probably doesn't know either. But this is about politics, and McCully's job is not to know who the Pakistan president is, but to drive a wedge between Peters and his minder, Helen Clark.

Education
Bill English v Steve Maharey

Groundhog day. English has already wiped the floor with Maharey over low-quality tertiary courses. He remains ambitious and that makes him industrious. Odds must remain on National's former leader to stay one step ahead.

Health
Tony Ryall v Pete Hodgson

Highly experienced and a soundbite politician, Ryall strays from his law-and order comfort zone into the complex maze called health. A details man, Hodgson is politically astute but can struggle to see the wood for the trees. Tough for both.

Police
Simon Power v Annette King

Surely Power's last chance. This potential leader retains influential friends in caucus - like half the front bench - but where has he been the last six years? Police should be a gimme for political hits, but King can only do better than George Hawkins.

Welfare
Judith Collins v David Benson-Pope

There'll be no love lost here. Collins, now National's top-ranked woman MP, has already helped batter Benson-Pope with assault claims which are being investigated by the police. They also scrapped over abortion law. A ding-dong battle looms.

- additional reporting: Helen Tunnah