This article is part of a series about Helen Clark
MP for Mount Albert Electoral history Leader of the Labour Party 1993 leadership election 1996 leadership election Leader of the Opposition Shadow Cabinet Prime Minister Fifth Labour Government "Anti-smacking law" Closing the Gaps Corngate Cullen Fund Foreshore and seabed controversy Helengrad Tampa affair KiwiSaver Working for Families Administrator of the UN Development Programme 2016 UN Secretary-General selection General elections 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 Cultural depictions On the Conditions and Possibilities of Helen Clark Taking Me as Her Young Lover
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New Zealand political leaderHelen Clark assembled a "shadow cabinet" system amongst the Labour caucus following her election to the position of Leader of the Opposition in 1993. She composed this of individuals who acted for the party as spokespeople in assigned roles while she was Leader of the Opposition (1993–99).

As theLabour Party formed the largest party not in government, the frontbench team was as a result theOfficial Opposition of theNew Zealand House of Representatives.

The lists below contains a list of Clark's spokespeople and their respective roles during the44th Parliament. In the lead up to MMP several party defections took place during the parliamentary term, making reshuffles commonplace.^[1]

Clark announced her first lineup on 13 December 1993.^[2] Less than a year later, in October 1994,Peter Dunne split from Labour, leading to a rearranging of portfolios. Dunne's commerce and customs portfolios were given toAnnette King and the revenue portfolio transferred toJim Sutton. His seat on the frontbench was allocated toSteve Maharey.^[3] In February 1995 there was a minor reshuffle afterDavid Lange announced he would retire at the next election. Deputy LeaderDavid Caygill was given foreign affairs withRichard Northey taking the disarmament and arms control portfolio. Lange retained the racing portfolio.^[4] In June 1995 two MPs,Clive Matthewson andMargaret Austin, left Labour to form a new party,United New Zealand. Caygill took the education portfolio from Austin and Annette King was given Matthewson's Social Welfare portfolio. In the same reshuffle Clark took on foreign affairs from Caygill.^[5] In June 1996 Caygill announced his retirement and the education portfolio was given toTrevor Mallard.^[6]Jack Elder defected toNew Zealand First in April 1996 and his overseas trade portfolio was allocated to Jim Sutton. In September 1996 the former leaderMike Moore, who had previously declined to take any portfolio, accepted the foreign affairs and overseas trade portfolios.^[7]

The list below contains a list of Clark's spokespeople and their respective roles during the45th Parliament:^[8]

Clark announced her first post-election lineup on 20 December 1996.^[9] In August 1997 there was a reshuffle surrounding the removal ofLianne Dalziel as Shadow Minister of Health. She was instead made Shadow Attorney-General and given the portfolios of immigration, youth affairs and statistics.Annette King replaced her as Shadow Minister of Health with King's social welfare and racing portfolios being transferred toSteve Maharey andDamien O'Connor respectively.Jill Pettis gained the conservation portfolio fromPete Hodgson who was given labour from Maharey.^[10] In September 1999Jim Sutton resigned as Shadow Minister of Forestry after a policy disagreement. The portfolio was given to Pete Hodgson.^[11] AfterMike Moore left Parliament to becomeDirector-General of the World Trade Organization the foreign affairs portfolio was given toPhil Goff and overseas trade allocated to Jim Sutton.^[12]

• Russell, Marcia (1996).Revolution:New Zealand from Fortress to Free Market.Hodder Moa Beckett.ISBN 1869584287.

• New Zealand Labour Party
• New Zealand shadow cabinets
• Helen Clark
• 1993 establishments in New Zealand
• 1999 disestablishments in New Zealand

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