TheShadow Cabinet ofBill English formed theofficial Opposition in the46th and47th New Zealand Parliaments while Bill English led theNew Zealand National Party, which was the largest party not a member of the Government. English was elected National Party leader unopposed in October 2001. He led the Party to its worst-ever result at the 2002 general election and was replaced as leader by first-term MP Don Brash in October 2003.
English reshuffled his party's portfolio allocations after the 2002 general election.[1] With the party comprising only 27 MPs, every person in the National caucus was assigned a portfolio. Notably, first-term MP and formerReserve Bank GovernorDon Brash was appointed to the Finance portfolio and ranked third.
| Rank | Shadow Minister | Portfolio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HonBill English |
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| 2 | HonRoger Sowry |
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| 3 | Don Brash |
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| 4 | Gerry Brownlee |
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| 5 | Simon Power |
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| 6 | DrLynda Scott |
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| 7 | Wayne Mapp |
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| 8 | HonTony Ryall |
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| 9 | HonDavid Carter |
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| 10 | Dr HonNick Smith |
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| 11 | Katherine Rich |
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| 12 | HonMurray McCully |
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| 13 | HonGeorgina te Heuheu |
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| 14 | Hon DrLockwood Smith |
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| 15 | John Carter |
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| 16 | Lindsay Tisch |
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| 17 | HonClem Simich |
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| 18 | Pansy Wong |
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| 19 | Shane Ardern |
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| 20 | Phil Heatley |
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| 21 | Paul Hutchison |
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| 22 | Richard Worth |
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| 23 | Judith Collins |
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| 24 | Brian Connell |
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| 25 | Sandra Goudie |
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| 26 | John Key |
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| 27 | HonMaurice Williamson |
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English was elected to the National Party leadership in October 2001, succeedingJenny Shipley. The list below contains a list of English's shadow ministers and their respective roles as announced October 2001.[2] Of note was English's decision to retain the Finance portfolio, which he had held under Shipley and had indicated he would relinquish as leader. Instead, apparently under pressure for a more gradual transition, David Carter was appointed as an associate spokesperson for finance, and it was suggested that Carter would take the primary portfolio in March or April of the following year.[3][4][5] Carter was eventually promoted to Finance spokesperson on 29 January 2002.[6][7] Later changes to the National lineup included Richard Worth succeeding Max Bradford in Defence[8] and Katherine Rich replacing John Luxton in Tourism, both in June 2002;[9] Bradford and Luxton had announced they would not contest the 2002 election.
| Rank | Shadow Minister | Portfolio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HonBill English |
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| 2 | HonRoger Sowry |
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| 3 | Hon DrNick Smith |
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| 4 | Gerry Brownlee |
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| 5 | HonTony Ryall |
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| 6 | Hon DrLockwood Smith |
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| 7 | HonDavid Carter |
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| 8 | HonGeorgina te Heuheu |
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| 9 | Wayne Mapp |
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| 10 | HonMurray McCully |
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| 11 | Gavan Herlihy |
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| 12 | Bob Simcock |
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| 13 | Lynda Scott |
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| 14 | Simon Power |
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| 15 | John Carter |
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| 16 | Tony Steel |
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| 17 | Belinda Vernon |
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| 18 | HonMarie Hasler |
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| 19 | Alec Neill |
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| 20 | Annabel Young |
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| 21 | Rt HonWyatt Creech |
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| 22 | Rt HonJenny Shipley |
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| 23 | Eric Roy |
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| 24 | HonJohn Luxton |
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| 25 | Pansy Wong |
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| 26 | HonMax Bradford |
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| 27 | HonMaurice Williamson |
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