Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is speaking at his regular post-Cabinet briefing, announcing who will pick up former Justice Minister Kiri Allan's portfolios following her resignation.
It comes after she was arrested and charged in relation to a car crash in Wellington on Sunday night. Allan accepted she could no longer be justice minister following the incident and resigned all of her portfolios.
Hipkins said on Monday afternoon Ginny Andersen will take over as justice minister, but keep her existing police portfolio.
"Aligning the justice and police portfolios will be important in the coming weeks as we look to progess the legislaton that we announced last week around ram raids to ensure that young offenders face more accounatbility for their crimes," Hipkins said.
"Ginny Anderson's focus and my focus is firmly on backing the police with the tools and resources they need in order to fight crime."
Ginny Andersen. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Kieran McAnulty will become the new minister for regional economic development, which Hipkins aid would align "with his existing portfolio as minister for rural communities".
Cyclone Recovery Minister Grant Robertson takes over the lead coordination role for the cyclone response in Tai Rāwhiti.
"Grant Robertson is already leading the government's rolling maul of initiatives to support the communities that have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle," Hipkins said. "He'll take over the lead coordination role for the Tai Rāwhiti region."
There will be further support for infrastructure announced later this week, Hipkins said.
Allan's associate health role was redistributed among existing health ministers, and Damien O'Connor picked up her associate transport role.
The Prime Minister also announced David Parker requested to reallocate his revenue portfolio to Barbara Edmonds, freeing him up to focus on transport.
"Prior to entering Parliament, Barb was a specialist tax lawyer and I've got confidence in her ability to take up a greater share of the economic work of the government, which is why I'm also making her an associate minister of finance," Hipkins said.
No new ministers will be brought into Cabinet, which currently has 18 of them.
"With five sitting weeks until the House rises for the election, I've decided not to bring any new ministers into Cabinet. Overall, there are 25 ministers in the executive and I believe all of them have a fair and manageable workload.
"Those promoted are all hard-working ministers who are performing well, have the capacity to take on more and now have the opportunity to show their strengths."
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