The Prime Minister has shuffled his media team, moving his former chief press secretary Kevin Taylor into an oversight role and promoting press secretary Kelly McAra to chief press secretary.
Mr Taylor, a former New Zealand Herald reporter, has been Mr Key's chief press secretary since 2007 when Mr Key was Opposition leader.
He will become the principal communications advisor to the Prime Minister, taking on a broader coordination role rather than dealing with the media on a daily basis.
Ms McAra, a former Waikato Times journalist, worked in communications for the Ministry of Justice and the Racing Board before moving to Parliament three years ago where she worked on a fill-in basis for several ministers. She moved full-time to the Prime Minister's media team more a year ago.
A new press secretary will be appointed to the Prime Minister's media team of four.
Mr Taylor approached the Prime Minister with the suggestion a few weeks ago.
It comes as Labour leader David Shearer also faces changes in his media team with the pending departure of his chief press secretary Fran Mold in May.
Ms Mold is moving to Auckland where her partner has accepted a job.
- Claire Trevett of the New Zealand Herald
