Reset continues for ousted Labour

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The Labour Party loses a wealth of knowledge and its strongest debater with the announcement yesterday by Grant Robertson that he will leave Parliament late next month and take up the role of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago in July.

The former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister had been expected to retire this term, after Labour’s loss and having opted out of standing for the leadership on Jacinda Ardern’s retirement last year, and the Wellington Central race at the election, having been its MP since 2008. He had only committed to helping the caucus transition from government to opposition.

His imminent departure follows the retirement of former leader Andrew Little straight after the election, and long-time deputy leader Kelvin Davis who finished up on Waitangi Day.

Robertson said he was extremely grateful for the privilege of being an MP for the past 15 years, and the “enormous honour” of having been a minister. He felt his greatest achievement was steering the country’s economy through the pandemic, and his toughest time was during the occupation of Parliament — given he was also the local MP.

Hot on the heels of a poor showing by leader Chris Hipkins in the first 1News-Verian poll since the election, where he was down 10 points on just 15 percent in the preferred prime minister stakes (while Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was steady on 25 percent), party faithful will have reason for concern over leadership stability. The good news from the poll was that Labour itself was steady on 28 percent support (and up 1 point from its election result).

Mana MP Barbara Edmonds, a former tax lawyer, takes over as finance spokesperson for Labour and moves from 11th to 4th ranked in the party’s shadow Cabinet, while Megan Woods moves from 4th, behind Roberston, to 3rd.

Hipkins used the opportunity for a minor reshuffle, with Ginny Anderson picking up Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations and Peeni Henare Māori Crown Relations, both roles formerly held by Davis.

Damien O’Connor adds Land Information to his portfolios and Tangi Utikere gets Racing, while other roles go to three list MPs returning to Parliament following resignations.

Shanan Halbert, who returned on Davis’ retirement, takes over Auckland Issues and a newly created Rainbow Issues portfolio; Tracey McLellan, who re-entered Parliament after the resignation of Rino Tirikatene at the end of January, picks up Corrections and Associate Health; Glenn Bennett, who will return when Robertson leaves, will be Labour’s spokesperson for Economic Development and Associate Energy.