Rotorua MP Todd McClay has been given another promotion, picking up two ministerial roles in John Key's new National-led Government.
Mr McClay has gone from being a minister outside Cabinet to a full Cabinet minister - moving from 23 on the party's ranking to 18. He retains his role as Minister of Revenue and picks up the position of Minister of State-Owned Enterprises.
He will also become Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Associate Minister of Trade, but he loses his role as Associate Minister of Tourism.
Mr McClay said he was grateful to the Prime Minister for showing confidence in him and his new appointments would benefit the region's economy.
"My two main portfolios are significant and important, and I'm very much looking forward to getting back into those," Mr McClay said.
"My trade appointment is one of special interest to me, with tourism, forestry and wood processing being very important to our regions.
"There are high tariff rates for our processed timber overseas and it is a focus of Government to work on trade agreements to reduce those tariffs to those important overseas markets.
"I'm also keen to help the manufacturers here in the region who do export to be able to secure local exports to some of our emerging markets and the world."
Mr McClay said Rotorua would be well served by his replacement as Associate Minister of Tourism, Paula Bennett.
"Paula is a very senior minister and the importance the Prime Minister places on tourism by making her his associate minister points to how seriously he takes the industry.
"She is a great friend of the Rotorua area and, with me in my trade role working with our tourism operators, I see this as a bit of a win for Rotorua," he said.
"I'm also keen to continue to support our small and medium enterprises to grow, invest, employ more staff, and compete successfully in a global marketplace, which is an important part of the Government's economic programme."
Mr McClay's promotion follows Waiariki MP and Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell's recently announced ministerial roles. Mr Flavell has picked up the roles of Minister for Maori Development (formerly known as Minister of Maori Affairs), Minister for Whanau Ora and Associate Minister for Economic Development.
Mr McClay congratulated Mr Flavell on his appointments.
"He deserves this promotion. His portfolios signal where the two parties want to work together and there is plenty of work to do in these areas.
"In the six years I have worked with him, he has been a very solid performer and will make an excellent minister.
"Rotorua is now served by three capable MPs, who are all committed to work closely together for the good of the region and our local people," Mr McClay said.