‘Boy from South Dunedin’ deputy PM
GRANT Robertson has had a few moments in his career when he has wondered: ‘‘How has a boy from South Dunedin ended up here?’’
Mr Robertson added another one to the list yesterday, when Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern named him as deputy prime minister.
‘‘I’m proud, humbled and looking forward to carrying on the work,’’ Mr Robertson said.
‘‘You don’t forget your roots, as Six60 might say.’’
Mr Robertson has been Finance Minister for the past three years. He retains that portfolio and also assumes responsibility for infrastructure.
That places Mr Robertson, who was central to the emergency response to Covid19, at the forefront of the economic recovery from the effects of the pandemic.
‘‘It’s about being a backstop for her [Ms Ardern] and filling in for her occasionally, but she was also very clear with me to ensure we deliver on the commitments we have made and do the things we said we would as part of our overall Covid response and rebuild.’’
The health and economic impact of Covid19 was continuing worldwide and made forward planning an uncertain science, Mr Robertson said.
With major European economies entering lockdown again, New Zealand’s economy would no doubt suffer another buffeting, he said.
‘‘We need to see New Zealand through this, and I think the plan we put out during the election was a good, balanced one, making sure we are aware of Covid19 but also building back better.
‘‘We have got a massive infrastructure programme under way with more to come, and my job is making sure that we are building on the foundations laid in the last term.’’
Mr Robertson’s ascension to the deputy prime ministerial role was enabled by Labour’s deputy leader, Kelvin Davis, ruling himself out for the post.
Mr Davis said yesterday he had told Ms Ardern before the election that while he wanted to remain deputy leader of the party, that role was the limit of his ambitions.
Ms Ardern said yesterday she had asked Mr Davis to reconsider, but he stuck to his decision.
‘‘Grant has been given the seniority and portfolio mix required to drive our economic recovery,’’ she said.
‘‘I am excited by the opportunities we have here.
‘‘It will be hard, but the legacy that we can leave the next generation in the way we choose to rebuild, is immense.’’
Mr Robertson’s mother, Yvonne Wilkie, of Brockville, laughed when she answered the phone yesterday afternoon.
She said she was ‘‘very proud’’ of her son but declined to be interviewed.
Ms Ardern managed to spring several surprises in a farreaching reshuffle of her team.
Nanaia Mahuta was a name few thought was in the running for Foreign Affairs and Andrew Little was an unexpected choice for Health.
Senior MP Phil Twyford retains a ministerial rank but plummets out of Cabinet, as does Jenny Salesa, who will be nominated to be Assistant Speaker.
Newlyelected list MP Ayesha Verrall, a onetime president of the Otago University Students Association and a specialist in infectious diseases, soars straight into Cabinet.
‘‘It is not without precedent to bring new members straight into Cabinet,’’ Ms Ardern said.
‘‘In the middle of a global pandemic, I believe we would be foolish not to use the considerable expertise Dr Verrall brings in infectious diseases into our response.’’
Chris Hipkins retains educa
tion, but takes on a new portfolio of Covid19 response, building on the work he has done recently as temporary Health Minister.
Former Otago MP David Parker remains Attorneygeneral, and Dunedin MP David Clark returns to Cabinet.
Te Tai Tonga MP Rino Tirikatene becomes an under
secretary, helping Mr Parker in a new portfolio of Oceans and Fisheries and also promoting Maori trade in the Trade portfolio.
WELLINGTON: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has brought five new ministers into her executive, among them firsttime MP Ayesha Verrall.
Kiri Allan
Ms Allan was seen by many as a rising star during the last term of Parliament and was given the role of deputy whip early in her tenure.
She further earned her stripes by flipping the East Coast electorate, winning it back for Labour this election.
She becomes the Minister of Conservation for Emergency Management and also Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage and Associate Minister for the Environment.
Ms Allan said it had been a ‘‘whirlwind’’ few weeks and joked she didn’t know why she had been elevated into
the Cabinet ahead of others.
Ayesha Verrall
Dr Verrall was thrust into the public spotlight at the beginning of the Covid19 pandemic.
An infectious diseases doctor, she provided commentary on the virus, and wrote a report for the Government on its contract tracing ability.
Unlike the other names on this list, she goes straight into the Cabinet. Dr Verrall gets the Seniors and Food Safety portfolios, and the role of Associate Minister of Health.
Jan Tinetti
Perhaps the lowestprofile newcomer to the Cabinet table, Ms Tinetti has become the Minister for Women and Minister of Internal Affairs.
The former school principal is also the Associate Minister of Education.
During the last term, she was the deputy chairwoman of the education and workforce select committee.
Priyanca Radhakrishnan
Ms Radhakrishnan has become New Zealand’s first New Zealand Indian minister, according to the Indian Weekender.
Born in India, she went to school in Singapore before moving to New Zealand to further her education.
She is a minister outside Cabinet.
Michael Wood
Many years ago, Mr Wood was Young Labour Party president. Who was his deputy? Jacinda Ardern.
Mr Wood, the former chief whip of the Labour Party, becomes Minister of Transport and Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety. — The New Zealand Herald