A new Government has finally been announced following weeks of coalition negotiations and will see ACT leader David Seymour and NZ First leader Winston Peters share the role of deputy prime minister for the first time in New Zealand’s political history.
Meanwhile, senior National member Simeon Brown will become transport minister as well as minister for energy and local government.
Brown says he’s “honoured” to have been asked to take on the roles.
“There are big challenges facing New Zealand in all these areas and I’m looking forward to working hard to deliver for New Zealanders in these portfolios,” he says.
Prime minister Christopher Luxon unveiled the Cabinet line-up consisting of 20 Cabinet ministers with 14 from National, three from Act and and three from NZ First.
“Despite the challenging economic environment, New Zealanders can look forward to a better future because of the changes the new Government will make,” Luxon says.
“The Government will manage a strong economy that will ease the cost of living and deliver tax relief, restore law and order, deliver better public services and strengthen democracy.
“The coalition documents between National and ACT, and National and New Zealand First, provide for both ACT and New Zealand First to support the major elements of National’s policy programme including our 100-day plan, our 100-point economic plan, and our tax and fiscal plans, with some adjustments.
“The National and ACT agreement provides that the Government will progress a range of ACT initiatives, and these will be supported by New Zealand First. Equally, the National and New Zealand First coalition agreement outlines a range of New Zealand First priorities, which will be supported by ACT,” Luxon says.
“The coalition parties believe people should be rewarded for their effort and hard-working Kiwis should keep more of what they earn. National campaigned on that commitment and, next July, the Government will deliver it.
The tax package will continue to be funded through a combination of spending reprioritisation and additional revenue measures, he says. However, as part of National’s agreement with New Zealand First, the proposed foreign buyer tax will no longer go ahead.
The ACT-National agreement pledges to work with Auckland Council to implement congestion charges. It also proposes to look into replacing fuel excise taxes with electronic road user charging for all vehicles, starting with electric vehicles. The agreement also says it will reverse speed limit reductions “where it is safe to do so”.
National has also pledged to end the Clean Car Discount by December 31.
National Party ministers inside Cabinet
- Chris Luxon – Prime Minister, Minister for National Security and Intelligence, Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services
- Nicola Willis – Minister of Finance, Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Social Investment
- Chris Bishop – Minister of Housing, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Minister for Sport and Recreation
- Dr Shane Reti – Minister of Health, Minister for Pacific Peoples
- Simeon Brown – Minister for Energy, Minister of Local Government, Minister of Transport
- Erica Stanford – Minister of Education, Minister of Immigration
- Paul Goldsmith – Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Minister of Justice, Minister for State Owned Enterprises, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
- Louise Upston – Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Minister for Child Poverty Reduction, Minister for Social Development and Employment
- Judith Collins – Attorney-General, Minister of Defence, Minister for Digitising Government, Minister Responsible for the GCSB, Minister Responsible for the NZSIS, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Minister for Space, Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques
- Mark Mitchell – Minister of Corrections, Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery, Minister of Police
- Todd McClay – Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Forestry, Minister for Hunting and Fishing, Minister for Trade, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Tama Potaka – Minister of Conservation, Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti, Minister for Māori Development, Minister for Whānau Ora
- Matt Doocey – Minister for ACC, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, Minister for Youth
- Melissa Lee – Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Ethnic Communities, Minister for Media and Communications
National Party ministers outside Cabinet
- Simon Watts – Minister of Climate Change, Minister of Revenue
- Penny Simmonds – Minister for Disability Issues, Minister for the Environment, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills
- Chris Penk – Minister for Building and Construction, Minister for Land Information, Minister for Veterans, Associate Minister of Defence, Associate Minister of Immigration
- Nicola Grigg – Minister of State for Trade, Minister for Women, Associate Minister of Agriculture (Horticulture)
- Andrew Bayly – Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing, Minister of Statistics
Act Party ministers
- David Seymour (Deputy Prime Minister from May 31 2025) – Minister for Regulation, Associate Minister of Education (Partnership Schools), Associate Minister of Finance, Associate Minister of Health (Pharmac)
- Brooke van Velden – Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety
- Nicole McKee – Minister for Courts, Associate Minister of Justice (Firearms)
- Andrew Hoggard (outside Cabinet) – Minister for Biosecurity, Minister for Food Safety, Associate Minister of Agriculture (Animal Welfare, Skills), Associate Minister for the Environment
- Karen Chhour (outside Cabinet) – Minister for Children, Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence
- Simon Court MP – Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Infrastructure, Minister Responsible for RMA Reform
New Zealand First ministers
- Winston Peters (Deputy Prime Minister until May 31 2025) – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Racing
- Shane Jones – Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Resources, Associate Minister of Finance, Associate Minister for Energy
- Casey Costello – Minister of Customs, Minister for Seniors, Associate Minister of Health, Associate Minister of Immigration, Associate Minister of Police
- Mark Patterson (oustide Cabinet) – Minister for Rural Communities, Associate Minister of Agriculture
- Jenny Marcroft MP – Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Media and Communications
