Nanaia Mahuta’s appointment returns ancestral legacy to foreign policy

As the first Māori woman to hold one of our government’s most pre-eminent posts, the appointment of Nanaia Mahuta to Minister of Foreign Affairs evoked mixed reactions. However, it’s a role she’s prepared for longer than you think, writes Carrie Stoddart-Smith for RNZ. For many, her appointment signalled the advancement of the progressive and inclusive … Read more

Insider tips for lobbying each member of Ardern’s new NZ cabinet

It is swearing-in day for the new cabinet. Sarah Austen-Smith, a former press secretary to prime minister Jacinda Ardern, has some advice for anyone looking to win sway with the top table team. Businesses, activists, organisations and public servants spend a huge amount of time (and money) trying to communicate effectively with ministers. In an … Read more

Gone By Lunchtime: Rummaging through Labour’s new cabinet

Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee Mather and Ben Thomas return, electrolytes replenished after the election marathon, to assess the newly announced Labour cabinet and more. It’s been 17 days since the election, about 24 hours since Labour announced the composition of its new cabinet, and now Gone By Lunchtime is back, fully revitalised, ready to discuss … Read more

The Bulletin: Plenty of surprises in new Ardernistration

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Who’s up and who’s down in Ardern’s new cabinet, new Covid-19 community case in Christchurch, and Ngāi Tahu taking Crown to court over freshwater. Throw out all those articles you read predicting who would get what ministerial jobs – they were pretty much all wrong … Read more

The Covid election is over. Here comes the Covid cabinet

Jacinda Ardern has unveiled a cabinet line-up with plenty of surprises, and a fair bit of history-making. Justin Giovannetti reports from parliament. Following what she deemed the Covid election, Jacinda Ardern has appointed her Covid cabinet. The group contains a number of firsts, including what could be the world’s first cabinet minister dedicated to beating … Read more

Today Jacinda Ardern names her new cabinet. These are the big calls to be made

With the Green deal done, attention moves to the top table. Here are some of the problems the PM will be hoping to solve. The deal with the Greens signed and sealed, the next order of business for Jacinda Ardern is to announce her cabinet. That’s expected to happen today, with the ceremonial business starring … Read more

Three years ago, Ardern set a goal of 50% women in cabinet. Now she must deliver

If other countries can deliver gender balanced cabinets, New Zealand has no excuse, writes Emma Riach of Equal Leadership NZ. As we look ahead to the next three years with Jacinda Ardern once again at the helm, attention turns to the next important selection: who will be given the responsibility to lead New Zealand as … Read more

The Bulletin: NZ Rugby packs down against government

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Rugby world gets fired up at government over tournament loss, cabinet to make new alert level decision today, and police commended for not arresting protesters. The weekend saw an interesting event in the cultural history of this country: The government had a clear opportunity to try … Read more

Politics podcast: We shall reshuffle you

In this new edition of Gone By Lunchtime, Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas weigh reshuffles in senior ranks of both the big parties, as well as Oranga Tamariki and David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill. Plus: a desperate plea to listeners. Podding against the clock, aka Annabelle’s stopwatch, the Gone By Lunchtime … Read more

Through the eras: assessing the diversity of our parliamentary cabinets

If parliament is a house of representatives, how representative has its most powerful members been? Lawyer Faisal Halabi crunches the numbers. The cabinet is a key mechanism through which the governing by our elected representatives is done. It’s the highest point of the executive arm of government where discussions and decisions are made on issues … Read more