Elections
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has revealed her new Cabinet line-up and says it is focused on Covid-19 recovery.
Ardern says experienced ministers will hold key economic recovery and ongoing Covid response portfolios.
“The next three years will be very challenging for New Zealand. With the global outlook worsening we won’t be immune to the ongoing impact Covid is having around the world,” she said.
Watch the announcement here:
“In what will be a difficult environment it’s critical we have our most experienced ministers leading the ongoing Covid response to keep New Zealanders safe from the virus and to accelerate our plan for economic recovery.”
Ardern named Grant Robertson as deputy Prime Minister. He will also continue as Finance Minister and be given the Infrastructure portfolio.
Kelvin Davis remains the party’s deputy leader. He revealed this morning that he didn’t want to be deputy prime minister, but instead wanted to focus on making ‘a difference for Māori’.
Chris Hipkins will be the Minister for Covid-19 Response.
“This is a new role that will give the minister responsibility for all aspects of our ongoing response, including the running of managed isolation facilities, our border defences as well as our health response including our testing and contact tracing systems and managing any resurgence of the virus,” Ardern says. Andrew Little will be the Health Minister.
ACT Party leader David Seymour reaction:
Source: rnz.co.nz Republished by arrangement.