Labour confirms senior positions including chief press secretary

Labour leader Andrew Little has confirmed two senior hires ahead of 2017. NZ Herald photo by Mark Mitchell.

Labour leader Andrew Little has confirmed two senior appointments ahead of next year's election campaign.

Mike Jaspers will be chief press secretary, filling a position that has been vacant since Sarah Stuart left in May after little more than a year in the role.

Jaspers works in communications for New Zealand Rugby including when New Zealand hosted the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

He has experience in Parliament - previously working as a press secretary for Sir Michael Cullen in 2006/07, and before that in Parliament's press gallery for TVNZ.

It's understood Little previously tried to hire Jaspers after he became Labour leader.

Little has also announced that Neale Jones will become chief of staff. Jones currently works in Little's office as political director.

Former chief of staff Matt McCarten has been re-deployed to Auckland where a new Labour Party office will open.

That was part of the planning for election year, including how to target the voter-rich Auckland.