UPDATED 5.10pm Prime Minister John Key said this afternoon that his desire to avoid a major cabinet reshuffle influenced first-term MP Hekia Parata's appointment as new minister of women's and ethnic's affairs.He acknowledged that "unquestionably&quo
UPDATED 5.10pm Prime Minister John Key said this afternoon that his desire to avoid a major cabinet reshuffle influenced first-term MP Hekia Parata's appointment as new minister of women's and ethnic's affairs.
He acknowledged that "unquestionably" some people would be disappointed and that there had been four or five close candidates for Pansy Wong's portfolios.
"Personally, I think she's extraordinarily talented," Mr Key said of Ms Parata.
He defended his decision to appoint Ms Parata over more experienced MPs, saying that he was happy with how Steven Joyce and Paula Bennett - both relatively inexperienced MPs - had performed during their time in cabinet.
On Pansy Wong's possible return to cabinet, Mr Key said that he "may well" reinstate Ms Wong as a minister if she performs well over the next twelve months.
"But I'm just not going to have people resigning willy-nilly and bring them back."
Hekia Parata will replace disgraced MP Pansy Wong as a cabinet minister.
Ms Parata will take over the ethnic affairs and women’s affairs portfolios previously held by Ms Wong and will also take over the associate ACC and Energy portfolios.
In lieu of naming a new associate minister for disability issues, Ms Parata will take up the new position of associate minister for the community and voluntary sector.
The switch occurred at the request of Tariana Turia, the cabinet minister for both portfolios.
Ms Parata will be sworn in on Wednesday afternoon.
“Ms Parata has a strong background in the public service and has also been a successful businesswoman," Prime Minister John Key said today.
“Her competence and ability were highlighted by the excellent result she achieved for the National Party in the recent Mana by-election, after running an outstanding campaign."
Ms Parata, of Ngati Porou and Ngai Tahu descent, was elected as a National list MP in 2008. She has run a consultancy company with husband Sir Wira Gardiner and is also reported to have interests in the manuka honey and hospitality sectors.
She holds an MA from Waikato University and has had short stints at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and Oxford University.
Ms Wong stepped down as a cabinet minister after it was discovered that she and her husband misused international travel privileges while on a trip to China in late 2008, where Ms Wong witnessed one of her husband's business deals.
A Parliamentary Services report found no evidence of systemic abuse of the perk, and ordered Ms Wong and her husband to pay back the offending $474.12 rebate.
Mr Key has not ruled out Ms Wong's return to the cabinet after the next election.
Labour, unsatisfied with the Parliamentary Services report, has called for a full auditor-general investigation into Ms Wong's international and domestic travel.
