The Labour Party caucus in front of Parliament on Tuesday the 5th of December in Wellington. A NZ Herald Photograph by Marty Melville
"Damien's time is up," declared Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as the party caucus gathered for a photo on the steps of Parliament this morning.
Damien O'Connor, Cabinet Minister and MP for the West Coast-Tasman, was a no-show as the MPs squinted into the sun for a photo on a barmy
Wellington morning.
Minister outside Cabinet and Ikaroa-Rawhiti MP Meka Whaitiri was also absent in this photo, though she eventually arrived for later photos.
Front and centre was Jacinda Ardern, flanked by Speaker Trevor Mallard and deputy leader Kelvin Davis.
As National MP Nick Smith arrived on Parliament's forecourt, Finance Minister Grant Robertson jokingly called out to him to join the Labour Party. Smith declined.