Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 20/1/25

It’s economic growth that Luxon above all wants to resuscitate – but health (given fresh blood) is among priorities, too,

Our Beehive monitors found just one new post on the government’s official website, dealing with the Cabinet shake-up that has been widely reported and heavily analysed over the past day or so.

Much of the commentariat’s attention was focused on Shane Reti’s losing his Health portfolio.

But economic growth is as important as health to the PM, who highlighted the expanded role he expects Nicola Willis to play. Only after he set out her responsibilities and his expectations did he say:

“In 2025, health is also a priority area.”

Latest from the Beehive

Refreshed team to drive economic growth in 2025

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has delivered a refreshed team focused on unleashing economic growth to make people better off, create more opportunities for business and help us afford the world-class health and education Kiwis deserve.

While Luke Malpass, at The Post, noted the reshuffle had transformed Nicola Willis into an economic mega-minister, an article by his colleague, Rachel Thomas, was headed Why Dr Shane Reti didn’t work as National’s health minister.

Claire Trevett, at the New Zealand Herald, said Luxon had showed some ruthlessness in demoting Shane Reti in the reshuffle – but did he go far enough?

And yes, Reti has not been sacked. He has been given four portfolios to look after, including Science.

Melissa Lee, on the other hand, has lost her ministerial posts outside of Cabinet and has been banished to the back benches.

As RNZ reported:

Having been demoted in April 2024 from Cabinet and stripped of Broadcasting, she has now been relegated to the backbenches with her only focus being that of a list MP.

But the curious creation of a new job has been getting some media attention, too.

James Meager has become Minister for Hunting and Fishing, Minister for Youth and Associate Minister of Transport.

He is also “Minister for the South Island”.

But he is not a Minister inside the Cabinet, and his name is the last on the list of National Party appointments, whereas Simeon Brown – a cabinet minister and number four in the National line-up – is Minister for Auckland.

And the rest of the country?

Shane Jones is Minister for Regional Development and – presumably – is charged with looking after whatever remains after the South Island and Auckland have their interests represented by a minister. But as Minister of Regional Development, surely he was supposed to be – and still will be – looking after South Island development. Or has his domain been shrunk?

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon didn’t mention how the South Island will be carved up but he did say he has delivered “a refreshed team focused on unleashing economic growth to make people better off, create more opportunities for business and help us afford the world-class health and education Kiwis deserve”.

Luxon laid claim to his government’s having made “solid progress on the economy”.

Inflation had fallen significantly and now “a steady march of interest rate cuts” were translating into real financial relief for households.

“Having set the building blocks for rebuilding the economy, 2025 is all about going for growth and I am refreshing my team to underline this priority,” Mr Luxon says.

He then highlighted the workload to be heaped on Nicola Willis.

“In addition to her role as Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis becomes Minister for Economic Growth – formerly known as the Economic Development portfolio.

“Her focus will be on leading the Government’s growth agenda to unleash the potential of our businesses to grow, develop talent and attract investment. That will mean co-ordinating and strengthening efforts that are already underway to deliver economic growth – and taking responsibility for new initiatives designed to promote growth and productivity in the New Zealand economy.

“In 2024, Nicola did a fantastic job delivering tax relief for hardworking Kiwis and restoring a culture of fiscal discipline – with New Zealanders now seeing the benefits in the form of lower inflation and interest rates. In 2025, I’m confident she will bring that same focus and dedication to the task of unleashing Kiwi businesses to grow at pace.

Only then did Luxon get around to identifying health as another priority area.

“Last year, Dr Shane Reti worked hard to reset the culture and performance of Health NZ. It was critical to establish targets and refresh their leadership – and I am confident the organisation is heading in a much better direction that it was when we entered office.

“But I have also heard Kiwis’ concerns that they expect to see even more progress – ensuring they can access the care they need, when they need it. To deliver on that expectation, I have decided Simeon Brown will become Minister of Health.

“Simeon is an outstanding and diligent minister who has done an excellent job delivering on the Government’s priorities. Off the back of that performance, I have decided his skills are best placed to take leadership of our health system going forward.

“Dr Shane Reti will take on an important new role assuming responsibility for New Zealand’s universities and our science sector – both of which are expected to play a critical role in our economic growth plan.”

Luxon proceeded to name other Ministers whom he expects to play “even greater roles in our plans to unleash economic growth in 2025”.

Chris Bishop becomes Minister of Transport, taking responsibility for an additional part of the Government’s ambitious infrastructure agenda.

Louise Upston picks up Tourism and Hospitality, a critical industry for promoting growth and employment in regional New Zealand. She also becomes Deputy Leader of the House.

Judith Collins becomes Minister for the Public Service, while Mark Mitchell picks up the Sport and Recreation, and Ethnic Communities portfolios.

Simon Watts takes on the Energy and Local Government portfolios – “both areas with significant reforms underway and expected to play a major role in our growth plan going forward”.

Outside Cabinet, Chris Penk picks up Small Business and Manufacturing, while Andrew Bayly becomes Minister for ACC.

And then we learn of the new job:

“I have also decided to bring in James Meager as a Minister outside Cabinet. He will take on the Hunting and Fishing, and Youth portfolios and the newly created role of Minister for the South Island. He will also be an Associate Minister of Transport.”

Melissa Lee was mentioned in the last paragraph:

“Finally, I would like to acknowledge Melissa Lee’s contribution in Government over the last year. She has worked incredibly hard engaging with the range of ethnic communities calling New Zealand home and I thank her for that service.”

Ministerial List – to take effect on Friday 24 January 2025.

NATIONAL PARTY MINISTERS

• Christopher Luxon

Portfolios

Prime Minister

Minister for National Security and Intelligence

Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services.

• Nicola Willis

Portfolios

Minister of Finance

Minister for Economic Growth

Minister for Social Investment

• Chris Bishop

Portfolios

Minister of Housing

Minister for Infrastructure

Minister Responsible for RMA Reform

Minister of Transport

Other responsibilities

Leader of the House

Associate Minister of Finance

Associate Minister for Sport and Recreation

• Simeon Brown

Portfolios

Minister of Health

Minister for State Owned Enterprises

Other responsibilities

Minister for Auckland

• Erica Stanford

Portfolios

Minister of Education

Minister of Immigration

Other responsibilities

Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions

• Paul Goldsmith

Portfolios

Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage

Minister of Justice

Minister for Media and Communications

Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

• Louise Upston

Portfolios

Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector

Minister for Disability Issues

Minister for Social Development and Employment

Minister for Tourism and Hospitality

Other responsibilities

Minister for Child Poverty Reduction

Deputy Leader of the House

• Judith Collins

Portfolios

Attorney-General

Minister of Defence

Minister for Digitising Government

Minister for the Public Service

Minister Responsible for the GCSB

Minister Responsible for the NZSIS

Minister for Space

• Shane Reti

Portfolios

Minister for Pacific Peoples

Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology

Minister of Statistics

Minister for Universities

• Mark Mitchell

Portfolios

Minister of Corrections

Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery

Minister for Ethnic Communities

Minister of Police

Minister for Sport and Recreation

• Todd McClay

Portfolios

Minister of Agriculture

Minister of Forestry

Minister for Trade and Investment

Other responsibilities

Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs

• Tama Potaka

Portfolios

Minister of Conservation

Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti

Minister for Māori Development

Minister for Whānau Ora

Other responsibilities

Associate Minister of Housing

• Matt Doocey

Portfolios

Minister for Mental Health

Other responsibilities

Associate Minister of Health

• Simon Watts

Portfolios

Minister of Climate Change

Minister for Energy

Minister of Local Government

Minister of Revenue

• Chris Penk

Portfolios

Minister for Building and Construction

Minister for Land Information

Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing

Minister for Veterans

Other responsibilities

Associate Minister of Defence

Associate Minister of Immigration

• Penny Simmonds

Portfolios

Minister for the Environment

Minister for Vocational Education

Other responsibilities

Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment

• Nicola Grigg

Portfolios

Minister of State for Trade

Minister for Women

Other responsibilities

Associate Minister of Agriculture

Associate Minister for ACC

• Andrew Bayly

Portfolios

Minister for ACC

Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

• James Meager

Portfolios

Minister for Hunting and Fishing

Minister for Youth

Other responsibilities

Minister for the South Island

Associate Minister of Transport

ACT MINISTERS

• David Seymour

Portfolios

Deputy Prime Minister (from 31 May 2025)

Minister for Regulation

Other responsibilities

Associate Minister of Education

Associate Minister of Finance

Associate Minister of Health

Associate Minister of Justice

• Brooke van Velden

Portfolios

Minister of Internal Affairs

Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety

• Nicole McKee

Portfolios

Minister for Courts

Other responsibilities

Associate Minister of Justice

• Andrew Hoggard (outside Cabinet)

Portfolios

Minister for Biosecurity

Minister for Food Safety

Other responsibilities

Associate Minister of Agriculture

Associate Minister for the Environment

• Karen Chhour (outside Cabinet)

Portfolios

Minister for Children

Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence

Parliamentary Under-Secretary

• Simon Court

Portfolios

Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the…

Minister for Infrastructure

Minister Responsible for RMA Reform

NEW ZEALAND FIRST MINISTERS

• Winston Peters

Portfolios

Deputy Prime Minister (until 31 May 2025)

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Minister for Racing

Minister for Rail

• Shane Jones

Portfolios

Minister for Oceans and Fisheries
Minister for Regional Development
Minister for Resources
Other responsibilities
Associate Minister of Finance
Associate Minister for Energy

• Casey Costello

Portfolios

Minister of Customs
Minister for Seniors
Other responsibilities
Associate Minister of Health
Associate Minister of Immigration
Associate Minister of Police

• Mark Patterson (outside Cabinet)

Portfolios

Minister for Rural Communities Associate Minister of Agriculture

Other responsibilities

Associate Minister for Regional Development

Parliamentary Under-Secretary

• Jenny Marcroft

Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the…

Minister for Media and Communications

Minister for Oceans and Fisheries

Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton