After an election campaign in which the news media indicated a degree of scepticism there would be a clear-cut outcome, the right-of-centre parties got the mandate they were seeking. Now the National leader’s political skill will face its first test as he seeks to construct a Cabinet both harmonious and effective, from the diverse talent in front of him.
Christopher Luxon, despite that scepticism, is almost certainly the man for the job. He may find the demands from NZ First for senior roles particularly onerous, but there may be little enthusiasm for a second election — as hinted at by some of his colleagues if Peters (in the final phase of his political career, surely) is too outrageous in what he wants.
As new ministers settle into their roles, they are almost certain to find the country’s finances are under greater stress than they imagined. Fortunately, in Nicola Willis, the new ministry will have someone who has a background working in the Beehive with ministers like John Key and Bill English. Luxon himself is a friend of Key and so if the lights are burning late on the seventh or ninth floor of the Beehive, it may be reasonable to guess the possibilities among the heavyweight visitors.
Another set of Beehive ministerial lights where ministers may be working into the nights include those of the new Minister of Health, expected to be Dr Shane Reti. The incoming Prime Minister is well aware how important it is for his administration early in his term to get on top of the health portfolio and with Reti so familiar with it, the Luxon government could make the advances so essential, but set aside in the previous term because of Covid. Now there is not just a shortage of medical facilities but also of key staff, many of whom have been attracted by higher salaries across the Tasman.
Another sector needing the immediate attention of a senior minister in the new administration is tertiary education. The universities are in varying states of financial distress, and unless the government puts another senior minister into the portfolio — someone like Steven Joyce — there will be fresh disasters waiting to happen.
Perhaps luckily for Luxon, none of the NZ First aspirants to Cabinet will want to put their names forward to work in health or education or other ministries as arduous as these. There have even been whispers that Peters doesn’t want a role like Minister of Foreign Affairs despite the prestige it confers. Still he might have to consider it, at least for the status it offers. Those who are familiar with Peters say he won’t be happy if he doesn’t get a ministry higher up the prestige ranking than that held by ACT leader David Seymour.
Ian Templeton CNZM OBE is a veteran New Zealand political reporter who celebrated 50 years of reporting the New Zealand Parliament from the press gallery in 2007. this article was first published HERE
As new ministers settle into their roles, they are almost certain to find the country’s finances are under greater stress than they imagined. Fortunately, in Nicola Willis, the new ministry will have someone who has a background working in the Beehive with ministers like John Key and Bill English. Luxon himself is a friend of Key and so if the lights are burning late on the seventh or ninth floor of the Beehive, it may be reasonable to guess the possibilities among the heavyweight visitors.
Another set of Beehive ministerial lights where ministers may be working into the nights include those of the new Minister of Health, expected to be Dr Shane Reti. The incoming Prime Minister is well aware how important it is for his administration early in his term to get on top of the health portfolio and with Reti so familiar with it, the Luxon government could make the advances so essential, but set aside in the previous term because of Covid. Now there is not just a shortage of medical facilities but also of key staff, many of whom have been attracted by higher salaries across the Tasman.
Another sector needing the immediate attention of a senior minister in the new administration is tertiary education. The universities are in varying states of financial distress, and unless the government puts another senior minister into the portfolio — someone like Steven Joyce — there will be fresh disasters waiting to happen.
Perhaps luckily for Luxon, none of the NZ First aspirants to Cabinet will want to put their names forward to work in health or education or other ministries as arduous as these. There have even been whispers that Peters doesn’t want a role like Minister of Foreign Affairs despite the prestige it confers. Still he might have to consider it, at least for the status it offers. Those who are familiar with Peters say he won’t be happy if he doesn’t get a ministry higher up the prestige ranking than that held by ACT leader David Seymour.
Ian Templeton CNZM OBE is a veteran New Zealand political reporter who celebrated 50 years of reporting the New Zealand Parliament from the press gallery in 2007. this article was first published HERE
1 comment:
Excellent comments.
In passing, the Tertiary Ed. portfolio is a time bomb.
This includes the powerful role of universities in brainwashing the younger generation regarding CG and the weak production of graduates in productivity-related fields. This must be stopped.
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