Hutt South MP Chris Bishop has retained the National Party transport and infrastructure portfolios following a caucus reshuffle under new leader Todd Muller.
Meanwhile, senior member Amy Adams has pulled the pin on her retirement plans and now climbs the ranks to number three to take on the new COVID-19 Recovery portfolio.
Muller takes the small business and national security portfolios while deputy leader Nikki Kaye is in charge of education, sport and recreation.
A National Party statement says former leader Simon Bridges “has said he needs time to reflect on his future”.
Muller said there would be a place for him in his Cabinet should he decide to stay in politics.
Bridges has since confirmed to media he intends to stand as a National Party candidate for Tauranga at the next election.
Muller says “New Zealand is facing perhaps the toughest time that almost anyone alive can remember”.
“We are borrowing tens of billions of dollars to get us through this crisis. There is only one team that can spend it competently and well, and that is my National Party team,” he says.
Muller says he was particularly pleased Adams had agreed to stay on for the COVID-19 Recovery portfolio.
“Amy is tough and tested and will play a key role in getting you, your family and your community through this,” he says.
* Click here for the full list of National Party portfolio allocations.
