National is busily appointing its own to prime positions

Christine Rankin's move to the Families Commission is the latest in an increasing number of appointments to Government posts of people with links to the National Party.

Most so far are sufficiently well regarded or qualified for Labour not to protest too loudly, but its state services spokesman, Grant Robertson, said the decision to appoint Christine Rankin failed that test.

"Where people have concerns that there are overtly political people who aren't appropriate, that does present difficulties.

"Christine Rankin is one of the most obvious examples of an appointment that most people would look at and think it wasn't appropriate."

Prime Minister John Key said he chaired the Cabinet's appointments committee and was not concerned about any appointments made so far.

The litmus test was whether a person was qualified for the post.

"Cabinet in my opinion must always have a mind to the suitability of anybody it appoints. If it doesn't feel comfortable or doesn't believe the person has the professional skills to carry out the job, then it shouldn't accept them."

Ms Rankin was appointed because of her strong advocacy in the area of child abuse.

The Government has also appointed former Labour Party MPs - most controversially Michael Cullen - to posts, but its own include National's retiring president Judy Kirk as chairwoman of the Lotteries Commission, former minister Roger Sowry to the Electricity Commission and former party leader Don Brash to the board of Transpower.

Mr Key's political mentor Jim McLay was made Permanent Representative to the United Nations and former Cabinet minister Sir Douglas Graham is facilitator for historical Treaty claims in Tamaki-Makaurau.

A former National Party and Act MP, Stephen Franks, is one of six "independent experts" appointed by Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee to an electricity market advisory group.

Environment Minister Nick Smith's advisory group on the Resource Management Act includes environmental consultant Guy Salmon, who stood on National's list in 2002. It also includes former Act MP, Rodney Mayor Penny Webster, and former National Party Cabinet minister Wyatt Creech.

On the other side of the ledger, it appointed Dr Cullen to the board of NZ Post, renewed former Labour minister Jim Sutton's post as chairman of LandCorp and appointed Paul Swain and Mahara Okeroa to help with Treaty of Waitangi settlements.

Mr Robertson said Ms Rankin vehemently opposed much of what the Families Commission stood for and Ms Kirk's appointment to the Lotteries Commission was marginal, although he knew little about her background.

He said others seemed qualified for their posts, but the Government had also shed people with strong Labour links for apparently political reasons, including Labour's former president Mike Williams and trade unionist Ross Wilson from the ACC board.

REWARDS FOR PARTY FAITHFUL

IN
* Former National minister Roger Sowry to Electricity Commission.
* Retiring National Party president Judy Kirk to chair New Zealand Lotteries Commission.
* Former National Party leader Jim McLay as New Zealand's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
* Former Cabinet minister Sir Douglas Graham as facilitator for historical Treaty claims in Tamaki-Makaurau.
* Former National candidate and Act MP lawyer Stephen Franks to advisory group for a ministerial review of electricity market.
* Environmental consultant Guy Salmon, Rodney Mayor Penny Webster and former Deputy Prime Minister Wyatt Creech on advisory group for Resource Management Act reforms.

OUT
* Former Council of Trade Unions head Ross Wilson from chair of ACC board.
* Former Labour Party president Mike Williams pushed to resign from three boards - Genesis Energy, the New Zealand Transport Agency and GNS Science.