General election, referendum results and new Cabinet details are out
Posted on Monday, December 12th, 2011 | Posted in General election, Government Relationships | No Comments »Election results
Special votes have now been counted and the results of the MMP referendum have been released.
> Read our analysis of the general election and referendum results
Also, read Nicola Shirlaw’s post-election commentary highlighting the very low turn-out for the election: Has anybody seen the New Zealand voter?
New Cabinet line-up
Also, who’s who in the new Cabinet line-up is out today.
Rangitata MP and first-time Cabinet Minsiter, Jo Goodhew, will be the next Minister for the Community & Voluntary Sector, as well as assuming the Senior Citizens’, Women’s Affairs and Associate Health portfolios. She will be a Minister Outside of Cabinet. Jo Goodhew hails from South Canterbury and has had some involvement in the community sector in her electorate over the years.
As one commentator has already put it today: “Her bio suggests a very inclusive approach, however being a Minister outside Cabinet she is in the cheap seats and [probably less] leverage compared to Tariana Turia who could at least wag the tail.”
The Hon. Tariana Turia remains Minister for Whanau Ora and Minister for Disability Issues, along with a number of Associate Minister portfolios in each of Health, Housing, Social Development and in the new portfolio Tertiary Education, Skills & Employment—assisting the Hon. Stephen Joyce.
The Hon. Paula Bennett retains Minister of Social Development and Youth Affairs.
Hekia Parata will become Minister of Education, replacing Hon. Anne Tolley who moves to Police and Corrections. Hon. Judith Collins takes over Justice (from the former Mnister Simon Power) and gets ACC and Ethnic Affairs.
The Hon. Tony Ryall remains Minsiter of Health, the Hon. Murray McCully keeps Foreign Affairs and Sport & Recreation and the Hon. Phil Heatley keeps Housing.
New Minister inside Cabinet, Selwyn MP Amy Adams, assumes the Associate role for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, and also becomes Minister for Communications and Information Technology, and Internal Affairs.
> Check out the new Cabinet line-up