National MP Amy Adams is looking forward to her new role in justice, after being promoted to the front bench in the new Cabinet line-up, she says.
Amy Adams. Photo: RNZ
Ms Adams, the National MP for Selwyn, has jumped up the Cabinet rankings from number 15 to number seven. She held the environment, and information and communications portfolios last term and has now been appointed as the Minister of Justice and for Courts, as well as Broadcasting and Communications.
Ms Adams said she had had some experience in the justice sector, having worked as a lawyer for 16 years before coming to Parliament.
Paula Bennett has also been promoted, moving to number five in the Cabinet and picking up the State Services, Social Housing and Associate Finance portfolios, as well as retaining Local Government.
Ms Bennett said she was proud to have been Minister of Social Development for two terms but was ready for another challenge.
She wanted to work in the finance area alongside the Finance Minister Bill English, and was keen to concentrate on how government agencies could work more closely together, including how they made their budget bids, she said.
New Conservation Minister Maggie Barry said she saw sees oceans policy as an important priority as they were the last frontier in conservation.
Ms Barry has been promoted into the Cabinet off the backbench, and has also been appointed Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Ms Barry said her partner, Grant Kerr, had resigned from the Arts Council of New Zealand to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.
She said they had been discussing his position since the possibility of the arts, culture and heritage portfolio was raised with her, and he formally resigned this morning.
Chester Borrows. Photo: NATIONAL PARTY
Meanwhile, Chester Borrows was putting on a brave face after has losing his ministerial portfolios altogether.
In the previous parliamentary term he was the courts minister, and held associate roles in justice and social development.
Mr Key said Mr Borrows did nothing wrong, and he had been nominated for the role of deputy Speaker of the House.
Mr Key said that was a good fit, as Mr Borrows was well respected across the Parliament.
Mr Borrows said he would not be telling the truth if he said he did not want to stay on as a minister.
"I guess it will always be a regret that I didn't get to be a minister inside of Cabinet, given achievements in the role I had outside of Cabinet, but at the same time, this is a team game and it's not for individual sportspeople, it's actually for team players," he said.
