Brash puts experienced MPs in key shadow cabinet positions

National leader Don Brash unveiled his shadow Cabinet today, giving seasoned strategist Murray McCully the job of taking on new Foreign Minister and master debater Winston Peters.

Dr Brash's new line-up also sees two women on its frontbench, an elevation in the ranks for its able finance spokesman John Key, and the unusual creation of a spokesman for "political correctness eradication".

He said that the new title for Wayne Mapp of "political correctness eradication" was "my own invention".

He said there could be scope to get legislation through Parliament to deal with some aspects of political correctness, saying Dr Mapp had delivered a speech some months ago that pointed out how government agencies had become advocates for a particular view of New Zealand history.

One of Dr Brash's key moves has been to put the veteran MP Mr McCully up against Mr Peters in a battle Dr Brash today said he was looking forward to.

Dr Brash today downplayed Mr McCully's lack of foreign affairs credentials -- a criticism that has already been levelled at Mr Peters -- saying Mr McCully was an experienced politician who could handle the role.

Mr McCully was previously National's parliamentary assistant to the leader. Dr Brash said he had asked for portfolio responsibilities instead. Mr McCully gets defence as well as foreign affairs and trade.

Dr Brash has elevated Mr Key to number four in his shadow Cabinet, up from a ranking of seven, in recognition of what he described as Mr Key's substantial contribution during the election campaign.

Some MPs have lost positions they wanted to keep -- Paul Hutchison has lost health to Tony Ryall and Lockwood Smith has lost trade to Mr McCully.

But Dr Brash has also given all his new MPs a job to do, by creating numerous roles for associates.

There has been some jostling of the rankings. Simon Power has lost his number three spot to Bill English and while slipping to number seven stays on the front bench. Mr Power has been given the law and order portfolio to handle.

Mr Ryall did a good job last term raising law and order issues, including the police 111 emergency system.

Dr Brash said today he was highlighting the importance of the health portfolio by moving it on to the front bench and giving it to Mr Ryall.

Dr Brash said the move was no reflection on Dr Hutchison "but sometimes a person who would make an outstanding Cabinet minister in government is not the best suited to an attack role in Opposition".

Judith Collins (welfare), Katherine Rich (economic development) and David Carter (agriculture) make it on to National's front bench.

Dr Brash has created "teams" of MPs by handing out many associate roles.

For instance, in education Mr English will have the help of four associate spokespeople including former Rangitoto College principal Allan Peachey and Tau Henare, who has been in Parliament before as a New Zealand First MP.

Dr Brash has given rankings to 27 of the 48 National MPs. The only newcomers to get rankings are Tim Groser, until recently New Zealand's representative at the World Trade Organisation, Wellington lawyer Chris Finlayson and Mr Henare.

Dr Brash takes on a role over relationships with non-government parties, saying maintaining contact with those parties would be important in the "finely-balanced" Parliament.

He has created a number of "liaison" roles including for Pansy Wong with Asian New Zealanders and Dr Smith with expatriate New Zealanders.

Dr Brash said there was no liaison role for Maori because Gerry Brownlee would be doing this job as Maori Affairs spokesman.

Dr Brash said his line-up was designed to attack a "tired, discredited Government".

However, Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen told reporters it "doesn't strike fear and trembling into the heart of the Government".

Dr Cullen said the National leader was shuffling around his potential "assassins" by promoting Mr English and Mr Key and demoting Mr Power.

Dr Cullen said Dr Brash was promoting two new MPs over about a dozen existing or returning MPs, although he had given National's first openly gay MP -- Mr Finlayson -- a good ranking.

"I thought there was a danger he might be treated pretty badly in that regard given the homophobic atmosphere of the election campaign funded by the Exclusive Brethren."

Dr Cullen also said Dr Mapp's new title of "political correctness eradicator" had a slightly "fascist" ring to it.

Asked about the match between Mr McCully and Mr Peters, Dr Cullen replied: "Poor Mr McCully."

"I don't think Mr Peters will have any trouble in that respect at all."

National's shadow Cabinet:

1. Don Brash -- Leader, SIS, Relationships with non-government parties.

2. Gerry Brownlee -- Deputy leader, shadow Leader of the House, State services, Treaty of Waitangi Issues and Maori Affairs.

3. Bill English -- Education, deputy finance.

4. John Key -- Finance.

5. Nick Smith -- Environment/RMA, energy, building and construction, caucus representative on the National Party Board.

6. Tony Ryall -- Health.

7. Simon Power -- Law and order (police and corrections).

8. Judith Collins -- Welfare, veterans' affairs, family affairs, liaison with Pacific Island New Zealanders.

9. Katherine Rich -- Economic development (incorporating small business, regional development, Ministry of Economic Development, NZTE), SOEs, liaison with youth.

10. David Carter -- Agriculture, tourism.

11. Murray McCully -- Foreign affairs and trade, defence, conservation, sport and recreation.

12. Lockwood Smith -- Immigration, revenue, associate finance, liaison with ex-pats.

13. Maurice Williamson -- Transport, communications and information, technology.

14. Wayne Mapp -- Labour and industrial relations, political correctness eradication, chair of caucus policy committee.

15. Richard Worth -- Justice, associate local government (Auckland).

16. Lindsay Tisch -- Chief whip, racing.

17. Tim Groser -- Arts, culture and heritage, associate foreign affairs and trade.

18. Chris Finlayson -- Attorney-General, associate Treaty of Waitangi Issues and Maori Affairs (treaty negotiations), associate arts, culture and heritage.

19. John Carter -- Local government, civil defence.

20. Pansy Wong -- Associate education (international education), associate immigration, associate revenue, liaison with Asian New Zealanders.

21. Georgina te Heuheu -- Broadcasting, associate defence, associate Treaty of Waitangi Issues and Maori Affairs (Maori development).

22. Paul Hutchison -- ACC, disability issues, research science and technology/CRIs, policy on children.

23. Shane Ardern -- Fisheries, customs, biosecurity, liaison with rural communities.

24. Phil Heatley -- housing, associate energy, associate fisheries.

25. Tau Henare -- Associate Treaty of Waitangi Issues and Maori Affairs (treaty negotiations), associate education (early childhood).

26. Sandra Goudie -- Senior citizens, internal affairs, associate local government.

27. Brian Connell -- Forestry, commerce, consumer affairs, statistics.

- NZPA