Chris Hipkins speaks to the Auckland Business Chamber
National and Act claim changes to Labour’s caucus are little more than “reshuffling the deck chairs” and argue the party isn’t offering effective policy ideas.
It comes alongside a cautious reception to Labour leader Chris Hipkins’ call for more collaborative governing from National’s Infrastructure Minister, who says he wants to find some consensus with the Opposition but is wary of past instances of Labour cancelling National’s projects.
Hipkins laid out his caucus reshuffle amid his State of the Nation address to members of the Auckland Business Chamber at the Pullman Hotel.
The reshuffle centred around a “refreshed economic team” led by finance spokeswoman Barbara Edmonds, who was given the new portfolio of savings and investment.
Police spokeswoman Ginny Andersen also received a new portfolio: jobs and incomes.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins with Simon Bridges, Wayne Brown and Helen Clark at this State of the Nation speech in Auckland. Photo / Dean Purcell
Long-time MP Peeni Henare was given economic development, the portfolio scrapped by the current Government and replaced with economic growth.
New MPs Cushla Tangaere-Manuel and Reuben Davidson were given Māori economy and science, technology and creative economy, respectively.
Tinetti lost education to Willow-Jean Prime, who had been a vocal member of Labour amid the Government’s approach to youth crime. Tinetti was given social investment and workplace relations and safety.
Willie Jackson, who had been open about considering leaving politics after the 2023 election, has taken on the meaty portfolio of social development, which had long sat with Labour deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni, now the party’s Auckland issues spokeswoman.
Kieran McAnulty picked up the new portfolio of infrastructure and public investment, while passing local government onto Tangi Utikere.
There were only a few changes to caucus rankings. Edmonds was bumped up to third over Megan Woods. Utikere, who had been prominent while prosecuting the Government’s Interislander ferry deal, jumped from 19th to 12th.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins giving his 2025 State of the Nation speech. Photo / Dean Purcell
His address outlined Labour’s priorities ahead of the 2026 election — “jobs, health and homes”. Hipkins also advocated for a more collaborative approach to governing, referencing the coalition’s decisions to reverse many of Labour’s policies.
“I am not going to stand here and ask you to give your support to the Labour Party just so we can put everything back in place — and start the merry-go-round again,” he said to his audience.
“And I can assure you we aren’t going to spend our first year back in Government pausing, cancelling, and reviewing everything.
“No more throwing the baby out with the bathwater just to make a political point.”
National Infrastructure and Transport Minister Chris Bishop said he had been “trying to work in a creative way” with the Opposition, including inviting Labour MPs to the Government’s investor summit next week.
He noted how the Infrastructure Commission was working on an independent 30-year plan for future infrastructure projects and would report to the Government in June.
National's Infrastructure and Transport Minister Chris Bishop wasn't impressed by Labour's reshuffle. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Bishop also pointed to possible collaboration regarding planning reform, given bipartisan agreement that the current legislation wasn’t sufficient.
However, he was cautious not to fully embrace Hipkins’ comments, recalling how the Labour-led Government in 2017 had scrapped some of the previous National-led Government’s projects.
Bishop, speaking to Hipkins’ speech as a whole, characterised it as a “fizzer” that contained a “series of platitudes, not policies”.
He believed Labour’s reshuffle amounted to “reshuffling the deck chairs”.
“This is a team that failed in Government, so simply reshuffling the same failed team that failed New Zealand in the past and giving them some new job titles is not a solution.”
Act leader David Seymour echoed similar sentiments and speculated whether Hipkins’ time as leader was coming to an end.
“The amazing thing is Chris Hipkins’ changes could all be made without any real person in New Zealand noticing. It may not be long before some of Hipkins’ caucus decide to reorganise him.”
Adam Pearse is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team, based at Parliament. He has worked for NZME since 2018, covering sport and health for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei before moving to the NZ Herald in Auckland, covering Covid-19 and crime.
