Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins | |
|---|---|
 Shadow Cabinet ofNew Zealand | |
| 27 November 2023 – Present | |
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| People and organisations | |
| Monarch | Charles III |
| Leader of the Opposition | Chris Hipkins |
| Deputy Leader of the Opposition | Carmel Sepuloni |
| Member party | |
| Status in legislature | Official Opposition |
| History | |
| Legislature term | 54th New Zealand Parliament |
| Predecessor | Shadow Cabinet of Christopher Luxon |
TheShadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins is theofficial Opposition in the54th New Zealand Parliament. It comprises the members of theNew Zealand Labour Party, which is the largest political party that is not a member of the government.
Labour leaderChris Hipkins announced his shadow cabinet on 30 November 2023, after the formation of theSixth National Government.
On 7 November 2023 the Labour caucus re-elected Hipkins as leader and electedCarmel Sepuloni deputy leader afterKelvin Davis declined to remain in the role. Labour's senior and junior whips,Tangi Utikere andCamilla Belich respectively, were re-elected. Hipkins deferred announcing portfolio assignments until after the incoming government was formed.[1] On 29 November it was revealed thatGrant Robertson andAyesha Verrall would hold the finance and health portfolios, with the remainder to be announced the following day.[2]
Many former ministers in the Hipkins-ledSixth Labour Government continued in their portfolios, but in opposition. These included Sepuloni in social development,Megan Woods in energy and resources,Willie Jackson in Māori development and broadcasting,Kieran McAnulty in local government and regional development,Ginny Andersen in police,Jan Tinetti in education and women, andBarbara Edmonds in economic development.Duncan Webb picked up the justice portfolio andDavid Parker became spokesperson for foreign affairs. McAnulty also secured the housing portfolio and was namedShadow Leader of the House. All 34 members of the caucus were assigned at least one portfolio but the highest-ranked member who had not previously served as a minister wassenior whipTangi Utikere, at 21, who was also assigned the transport portfolio.[3]
On 15 December 2023,Kelvin Davis (spokesperson for Māori–Crown relations and Treaty of Waitangi negotiations) announced that he would retire from Parliament effectiveWaitangi Day on 6 February 2024.[4] On 29 January 2024,Rino Tirikatene (spokesperson for corrections and land information) announced that he would retire from Parliament that weekend.[5] The resignations of Tirikatene and Davis, bothlist MPs, allowedTracey McLellan andShanan Halbert to reenter Parliament.[6] On 20 February 2024,Grant Robertson (spokesperson for finance and racing) announced that he would be resigning the following month to take up the position ofVice-Chancellor of theUniversity of Otago. Robertson was succeeded as a list MP byGlen Bennett on 25 March 2024.[7]
Hipkins addressed the three resignations in a single reshuffle on the same day as Robertson's resignation. The eleventh-ranked economic development and associate finance spokespersonBarbara Edmonds was promoted to the fourth rank and the lead finance portfolio, behind senior MPMegan Woods. The other MPs who gained new portfolios wereDamien O'Connor (land information),Tangi Utikere (racing portfolios),Ginny Andersen (Treaty of Waitangi negotiations),Peeni Henare Māori–Crown Relations), Halbert (Auckland and rainbow issues), McLellan (corrections and associate health) and Bennett (economic development and associate energy).[8][6]
In March 2025, Hipkins announced a reshuffle of the Cabinet with a focus on creating a team focused around the economy consisting ofBarbara Edmonds,Ginny Andersen,Peeni Henare,Reuben Davidson andCushla Tangaere-Manuel.[9] Hipkins also gave a state of the nation address focusing on jobs, health and housing at the Auckland Business Chamber, which was attended by Chamber leaderSimon Bridges,Mayor of AucklandWayne Brown and several union and business leaders.[9][10] Former chief whip and incoming local government spokespersonTangi Utikere was promoted to the 12th rank and thewhips team of Utikere,Camilla Belich andArena Williams were succeeded byGlen Bennett,Tracey McLellan and Tangaere-Manuel. In a minor reshuffle following the retirement ofDavid Parker in May 2025, Henare became foreign affairs spokesperson andVanushi Walters rejoined Parliament as shadow attorney-general.[11]
The list of portfolio spokespersons, as of 8 March 2025, is as follows.[12]
| Rank | Spokesperson | Portfolio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rt HonChris Hipkins | Leader of the Opposition Spokesperson for Ministerial Services Spokesperson for National Security and Intelligence | |
| 2 | HonCarmel Sepuloni | Deputy Leader of the Opposition Spokesperson for Auckland Issues Spokesperson for Pacific Peoples Spokesperson for Women | |
| 3 | HonBarbara Edmonds | Spokesperson for Finance Spokesperson for the Economy, Savings and Interest | |
| 4 | HonMegan Woods | Spokesperson for Manufacturing and Industry Spokesperson for Energy and Resources Associate Spokesperson for Finance | |
| 5 | HonWillie Jackson | Spokesperson for Māori Development Spokesperson for Social Development | |
| 6 | HonAyesha Verrall | Spokesperson for Health Spokesperson for Wellington Issues | |
| 7 | HonKieran McAnulty | Shadow Leader of the House Spokesperson for Housing Spokesperson for Infrastructure Spokesperson for Public Investment | |
| 8 | HonWillow-Jean Prime | Spokesperson for Education Spokesperson for Children | |
| 9 | HonGinny Andersen | Spokesperson for Police Spokesperson for Jobs and Income Spokesperson for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations | |
| 10 | HonJan Tinetti | Spokesperson for Workplace Relations and Safety Spokesperson for Social Investment Spokesperson for Early Childhood Education Spokesperson for Child Poverty Reduction | |
| 11 | HonPeeni Henare | Spokesperson for Economic Development Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Spokesperson for Defence Spokesperson for Māori-Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti Associate Spokesperson for Health | |
| 12 | Tangi Utikere | Spokesperson for Transport Spokesperson for Local Government Spokesperson for Racing Spokesperson for Small Business | |
| 13 | HonPriyanca Radhakrishnan | Spokesperson for Conservation Spokesperson for Disability Issues Spokesperson for the NZSIS Spokesperson for the GCSB | |
| 14 | HonJo Luxton | Spokesperson for Agriculture Spokesperson for Biosecurity Spokesperson for Rural Communities | |
| 15 | HonDuncan Webb | Deputy Shadow Leader of the House Spokesperson for Justice Spokesperson for Regulation Spokesperson for theNatural Hazards Commission | |
| 16 | HonDeborah Russell | Spokesperson for Revenue Spokesperson for Climate Change Associate Spokesperson for Finance | |
| 17 | HonRachel Brooking | Spokesperson for the Environment Spokesperson for Food Safety Spokesperson for Space Spokesperson for RMA Reform | |
| 18 | HonDamien O'Connor | Spokesperson for Trade Spokesperson for Land Information Spokesperson for Regional Development | |
| 19 | Camilla Belich | Spokesperson for ACC Spokesperson for Emergency Management Spokesperson for Public Services | |
| 20 | Glen Bennett | Chief Whip Spokesperson for Tourism and Hospitality | |
| 21 | Tracey McLellan | Junior Whip Spokesperson for Corrections Spokesperson for Christchurch Issues | |
| 22 | Cushla Tangaere-Manuel | Assistant Whip Spokesperson for Sport and Recreation Spokesperson for Forestry Spokesperson for Māori Economy | |
| 23 | Arena Williams | Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Spokesperson for Building and Construction Spokesperson for Youth | |
| 24 | HonPhil Twyford | Spokesperson for Immigration Spokesperson for Disarmament and Arms Control Associate Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs | |
| 25 | Greg O'Connor | Assistant Speaker of the House of Representatives Spokesperson for Courts Spokesperson for Veterans | |
| 26 | HonJenny Salesa | Spokesperson for Ethnic Communities Spokesperson for Customs | |
| 27 | Rachel Boyack | Spokesperson for Oceans and Fisheries Spokesperson for Arts, Culture and Heritage Spokesperson for Animal Welfare | |
| 28 | Rt HonAdrian Rurawhe | Spokesperson for Whānau Ora | |
| 29 | Helen White | Spokesperson for the Community and Voluntary Sector Spokesperson for Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence | |
| 30 | Ingrid Leary | Spokesperson for Seniors Spokesperson for Mental Health | |
| 31 | Lemauga Lydia Sosene | Spokesperson for Internal Affairs Spokesperson for Statistics | |
| 32 | Reuben Davidson | Spokesperson for Science, Technology and Innovation Spokesperson for Broadcasting, Media and Creative Economy | |
| 33 | Shanan Halbert | Spokesperson for Tertiary Education Spokesperson for Rainbow Issues | |
| 34 | Vanushi Walters | Shadow Attorney-General Associate Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs | |
In February 2024, Labour reversed its previous support for New Zealand entering the non-nuclear component of theAUKUS, with Associate Foreign Affairs SpokespersonPhil Twyford describing it as an "offensive warfighting alliance against China."[13]
In mid October 2024, Hipkins and finance spokesperson Edmonds unveiled the party's "NZ Future Fund" policy, which would complement theNew Zealand Superannuation Fund established by theFifth Labour Government. The NZ Future Fund seeks to stimulate economic investment in New Zealand and is modelled after Singapore'sTemasek fund.[14]
In April 2024, Labour called for New Zealand torecognisePalestinian statehood. During the 2023 general election, Labour had campaigned on inviting a Palestinian representative to become an ambassador to New Zealand but had canceled it following the outbreak of theGaza war on 7 October 2023.[15]
In early November 2025, health spokespersonAyesha Verrall and Hipkins released a policy proposing freecervical cancer screenings for all women aged between 25 and 69 years. This cervical screening scheme is estimated to cost NZ$21.6 million and would be funded through health baselines.[16]
Taking a bipartisan approach towards investment, Labour has supported the Sixth National Government's Infrastructure Investment Summit, which was held in Auckland on 13 March 2025. Labour's finance spokespersonBarbara Edmonds gave a speech, titled "Investing in New Zealanders," outlining the party's views on "inclusive and sustainable development" that benefitted New Zealanders.[17] Despite this bipartisan approach to investment, Hipkins has indicated that Labour would not support the privatisation of health and education buildings.[18]
In late October 2025, Hipkins announced that a future Labour government would introduce acapital gains tax to subsidise three free doctors' visits a year. The proposed capital gains tax would tax 28% of property transactions excluding the family home and farms. Hipkins also ruled out the idea of awealth tax. In addition, Labour also announced plans to introduce tax subsidies for the domestic video game industry. In response,ACT leader and Deputy Prime MinisterDavid Seymour dismissed the idea of a capital gains tax as divisive and unnecessary.[19]
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1965–present |
Prime Minister of New Zealand (2023) •Leader of the Labour Party (2023–present) •Member of Parliament forRemutaka (2008–present) | ||
| Premiership | .jpg) | |
| Electoral history | ||
| Other | ||
