pn584. Reactions to the new Cabinet (and a table of members' responsibilites)

"builds fantastic relationships"

Hailed as a Cabinet of surprises by Tova O"Brien (Newshub), Jane Patterson (RNZ) and Julie Iled (NBR), Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom)  writes of "big calls",  and Helen du Plessis-Allan (NZ Herald) of  Jacinda  "finally show(ing) she has a backbone with tough Cabinet calls" while Tim Watkin (RNZ) writes  "in safe hands - but nothing flashy." 

The only overtly negative call, surprisingly,  came from left-leaning Chris Trotter (Daily Blog)  who likened the appointments to a curate's egg, both good and bad. He named the "bad" as the appointment of Kris Faafoi as Minister of Justice and Nanaia Mahuta as Foreign Minister, who, incidentally, are both Polynesian. 

Maori journalists were overjoyed there are five Maori in Cabinet, and one outside. They will cover 16 ministerial and associate ministers roles inside Cabinet, and a further three  outside.

Shane Te Pou (Spinoff) called it  "a momentous day for Maori", Richard Pamatatau (RNZ) said there was "something for everyone" and Rukuwai Tipene-Allen (Maori TV) , wrote this  of Nanaia's appointment, "the first moko wearing, Maori speaking and female to represent Aotearoa."

Most others commented on the Maori representation, the number of women, rainbow members and the first openly gay Deputy Prime Minister. 

Of Nanaia's appointment, Jacinda said "She is someone who builds fantastic relationships very, very quickly and that is one of the key jobs in a foreign affairs role."

Other than the media, the Maori Council, NZ Principals' Association, the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, and the National Network of Family Violence Services were among those welcoming the appointments, the latter referring to the new ministry for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, headed by Green's co-leader Marama Davidson.

Across the political divide, former National leader Simon Bridges congratulated Nanaia on her appointment.  

Only ACT leader  David Seymour was totally negative, repeating his well worn line about Labour's "serious skills shortage" and ... a party that "has few ideas and even fewer Ministers capable of implementing them."  

It reads like sour grapes attention-seeking politics. When will he stop dancing, skydiving, playing basketball and making this sort of empty remark to denigrate others and draw attention to himself?

Of the 20 Cabinet Ministers 7 are women, 5 are Maori, 4 Pasifika and 2 are of Other ethnicities, the most diverse ever in the history of Parliament.  

-- ACW

List of Ministers, Assistant Ministers, their portfolios, gender and ethnicity

Ministers in Cabinet, n = 20.

		See Note		Ministries	Assistant. Ministries
1	Jacinda Ardern	F	PM	Nat. Security, Intelligence Child Poverty Reduction Ministerial Services	Arts, Culture and Heritage
2	Grant Robinson		Deputy PM	Finance Infrastructure Racing Sports and Recreation
3	Kelvin Davis	M		Māori Crown Relations Children Corrections	Education (Māori Education)
4	Megan Woods	F		Housing Energy and Resources Research, Science. Innovation	Finance
5	Chris Hipkins		Leader of the house	Covid-19 Response Education Public Service
6	Carmel Sepuloni	F,P		Social Dev, and Employment ACC Arts, Culture & Heritage Disability Issues
7	Andrew Little			Health Responsible for GCSB Responsible for NZSIS Responsible for Pike River Re entry Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
8	David Parker		Attorney General	Environment Oceans and Fisheries Revenue	Finance
9	Nanaia Mahuta	F, M		Foreign Affairs Local Government	Māori Development
10	Poto Williams	F, P		Buildng & Construction Police	Children Housing (Public Housing)
11	Damien O”Connor			Agriculture Biosecurity Land Information Rural Communities Trade & Export Growth
12	Stuart Nash			Economic & Regional Development Forestry Small Business Tourism
13	Kris Faafoi	P		Justice Broadcasting and Media Immigration
14	Peeni Henare	M		Defence Whanau Ora	Health (Māori Health) Housing (Māori Housing)
15	Willie Jackson	M		Māori Development	ACC Justice
16	Jan Tinetti	F		Internal Affairs Women	Education
17	Michael Woods		Deputy Lead -er House	Transport Workplace Relations & Safety
18	Kiri Allan	F, P		Conservation Emergency Management	Arts, Culture, & Heritage Environment
19	David Clark			Commerce & Consumer Affairs Digital Economy & Communications State Owned Enterprises Statistics Responsible to Earthquake Commission
20	Ayesha Verrall	F, O		Food Safety Seniors	Health Research, Science and Innovation

Ministers outside Cabinet, n = 4.

				Ministers	Assistant Ministers
1.	Aupito Williams Sio	P		Courts Pacific Peoples	Foreign Affairs Education (Pacific Peoples) Justice Health (Pacific Peoples)
2.	Meka Whaitiri	M		Customs Veterans	Agriculture (Animal Welfare) Statistics
3	Phil Twyford			Disarmament & Arms Control Trade and Export Growth	Environment Immigration
4.	Priyanca Radhakrishnan	F, O		Community & Volunteer Sector Diversity, Inclusion & Ethnic Communities Youth	Social Development & Employment

Co-operation Agreement Ministers, n = 2.

				Ministers	Assistant Ministers
1.	Marama Davidson	F, M		Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence	Housing (Homelessness)
2.	James Shaw			Climate Change	Enviroment (Biodeversity)

F = Female; M = Māori , P = Pacific Islander; O = Other ethnicity

-- ACW