Cabinet to be freshened up - Key
It is good for people to have new portfolios as “otherwise they get a bit stale in their thinking”, Prime Minister John Key says.
The new National cabinet looks like having more changes than originally thought.
Prime Minister John Key is due to announce his cabinet line up at 11am this morning.
Speaking on Radio New Zealand this morning, Mr Key signaled that it is time to freshen up cabinet responsibilities.
The new cabinet “would have a logic to it”, Mr Key says.
It is good for people to have new portfolios as “otherwise they get a bit stale in their thinking”, he says.
This morning's announcement will signal the start of what is expected to be a busy second term for the government.
It has signaled, with the support of United Future MP Peter Dunne, that the programmer to sell shares in state owned enterprises would get under way in the second half of next year.
The Maori Party signed a deal with the government yesterday that meant co-leaders Pita Sharpies and Mariana Turin would keep their ministerial portfolios.
However, their support was only on confidence and supply. They are free to oppose asset sales if they wish.
Other election results became clearer over the weekend, after special votes were counted.
However two results are so close recounts are expected.
In Waitakere, Labour's Carmel Sepuloni was 11 votes ahead of National cabinet minister Paula Bennett.
A judicial recount is also likely in Christchurch Central, where National's Nicky Wagner beat the incumbent Labour MP, Brendon Burns, by 45 votes.
In another change from election night, the Green Party gained another seat once special votes were finalised.
Mojo Mathers, who is deaf, will become the party's 14th MP.
The turnout as a percentage of enrolled electors is 74.21 percent (2008 – 79.46 percent).
Referendum on the Voting System in summary: in Part A of the Referendum, 57.77 percent of valid votes were cast in favour of keeping MMP as New Zealand’s voting system; in Part B of the Referendum, the most preferred alternative system was First Past the Post (FPP), with 46.66 percent of valid votes.
See the official 2012 election results here.
Colin Williscroft
Mon, 12 Dec 2011
Mon, 12 Dec 2011
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Cabinet to be freshened up - Key
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