Moroney gets education role

Darren Hughes. Photo / Supplied

Labour's new education spokeswoman Sue Moroney says she is confident upheavals in the critical portfolio and her late takeover will not damage policy development before the election.

Ms Moroney, 46, was appointed education spokeswoman and elevated to Labour's front bench in a reshuffle announced yesterday by leader Phil Goff.

The changes were made following the resignation of Darren Hughes after a police complaint against him by an 18-year-old man. Police have not yet said if they will lay charges and Mr Hughes says he has done nothing wrong.

First-term MP David Shearer will take on tertiary education as well as his research, science and technology role. Rick Barker was elected chief whip because of previous experience as government chief whip.

Ms Moroney is the fourth person to hold the critical education portfolio since Labour went into Opposition in 2008, following Chris Carter, Trevor Mallard and Mr Hughes.

It is one of the most significant portfolios for the party and although the election is just eight months away, Ms Moroney was confident the late change would not affect policy development.

She had been the early childhood education spokeswoman since 2008 so had taken part in the the education team's policy meetings throughout both at caucus and at party level. She was also the mother of two school-aged children so knew the system well.

"I've always thought education and science are the two areas that underpin the future of the country, so to have responsibility for Labour's policy development in that key area is a huge honour for me. It's such a core area for Labour and we've done well in it."

Mr Goff announced the changes during Labour's first full caucus meeting since Mr Hughes resigned.

His decision to give Ms Moroney the key primary and secondary schooling areas as well as her early childhood education portfolio will help assuage concerns that he was favouring friends. It will also please the women's caucus and unionists in Labour because of Ms Moroney's background as a workplace health and safety educator and as an organiser in the NZ Nurses' Organisation.

Mr Goff had initially made Mr Shearer the acting spokesman for education after Mr Hughes was put on leave a fortnight ago - raising eyebrows because of Mr Goff's long friendship with Mr Shearer.

Mr Goff said it made sense to give Mr Shearer the tertiary education role because he had worked closely with many institutions during his work on research, science and technology.

Mr Hughes' resignation was effective yesterday and the party's 2011 Manurewa candidate Louisa Wall is expected to take his seat in Parliament.

CHANGES

Sue Moroney: from 14 to 12 on to front bench. Gets education: early childhood, primary and secondary.

Rick Barker: gets chief whip, loses assistant Speaker to Ross Robertson.

David Shearer: gets tertiary education, keeps research, science and technology, loses defence to Iain Lees-Galloway.

Steve Chadwick: keeps junior whip, takes senior citizens and associate health (aged care) from Ross Robertson.