KEY POINTS:
Labour MP Charles Chauvel has been elected chairman of Parliament's finance select committee.
The vacancy was created when Shane Jones was made a minister in last week's Cabinet reshuffle.
Mr Chauvel ruffled a few feathers last week when he issued a statement welcoming his appointment as parliamentary private secretary to Attorney-General Michael Cullen as well as announcing his role as Labour's nominee on the committee.
This upset some in the Beehive because the positions had not been confirmed and were not his to announce.
It is understood that offers of an appointment have not been ruled out because of the gaffe, but the announcements have been put down the Government's work priorities as a message to Mr Chauvel.
Mr Chauvel's election to the chairmanship is a sign he is not totally out of favour with all his fellow MPs.
Mr Chauvel's press release blunder followed his angering many colleagues by telling them he might refuse the minor roles and quit politics if he did not get a ministerial role in the reshuffle.
Mr Chauvel is a highly qualified lawyer, but is the second most junior MP in Labour after entering Parliament last July.
He is seeking selection as Labour's candidate for the Wellington Central seat, which will be vacant because Marion Hobbs will be retiring next year.
Grant Robertson, a former senior adviser to Prime Minister Helen Clark is also seeking the nomination.
- NZPA
