Judith Collins has promoted Michael Woodhouse to be her finance spokesman after Simon Bridges rejected the position because of Collins' plan to split the usual finance portfolio into two roles.
Collins this afternoon unveiled her caucus reshuffle flanked by Dunedin list MP Woodhouse, new deputy leader Shane Reti and new number 5 Louise Upston.
It has seen Bridges kept down the rankings, Andrew Bayly put at number 3 and former leader Todd Muller number 19.
It is understood Bridges was initially offered the finance role, but turned it down because he did not think Collins' decision to split the portfolio into two roles would work.
The move has cost him a spot in the top five, with Collins ranking him at number 7 and giving him justice, water, Pike River re-entry and Maori-Crown relations.
Former finance spokesman Paul Goldsmith has been given education and has dropped down the rankings to number 12.
The arrangement was likely to be loosely modelled on the Treasurer and Finance Minister split which is used in Australia, and had a brief appearance in New Zealand during the National/NZ First government of 1996 when Bill Birch was Minister of Finance and Winston Peters was Treasurer.
Typically, the Treasurer is responsible for overall fiscal policy while the Finance Minister is in charge of matters such as tax and revenue.
The finance portfolio has been held by Paul Goldsmith but it is thought he lost it after the $4 billion "fiscal hole" error in National's plan during the election campaign.
Muller has also dropped down the list and has been given trade and export growth and internal affairs.
As well as finance, Woodhouse has been given transport and is deputy shadow leader of the House.
Louise Upston has held on to social development and is number 5.
Collins has taken National Security and Intelligence, pacific peoples as well as technology while deputy Shane Reti will retain health and will take on the children portfolio.
Bayley, a Collins loyalist and chartered accountant, will be the shadow treasurer and take on the infrastructure and statistics portfolios.
Mark Mitchell has been ranked number 13 and will hold the public service, SOEs and sports and recreation portfolios.
Collins was tight-lipped about the reshuffle yesterday after being re-elected as leader, with Reti installed as deputy.
She would only confirm Reti would be keeping the health portfolio but said she would be looking to reward "talent, hard work and loyalty to the party" and promised it would be "surprising".
After National's disastrous election result, which saw it win just 25.6% of the vote, the size of the party's caucus was dramatically reduced from 55 MPs last term to just 33 this time.
The full list
1. Judith Collins
National Party Spokesperson Allocations Pacific Peoples
Technology, Manufacturing & Artificial Intelligence
2. Shane Reti
Health
Children
3. Andrew Bayly
Shadow Treasurer (Revenue)
Infrastructure
Statistics
4. Michael Woodhouse
Finance
Transport
Deputy Shadow Leader of the House
5. Louise Upston
Social Development & Employment
Social Investment
Whānau Ora
Land Information
6. Todd McClay
Economic Development
Small Business
Commerce & Consumer Affairs
Tourism
Associate Pacific Peoples
7. Simon Bridges
Justice
Water
Pike River Re-entry
Māori-Crown Relations
8. Chris Bishop
Covid-19 Response
Shadow Leader of the House
9. Melissa Lee
Broadcasting & Media
Digital Economy & Communications
Ethnic Communities
10. Scott Simpson
Environment
Workplace Relations
RMA (Environment)
11. David Bennett
Agriculture
Horticulture
Biosecurity
12. Paul Goldsmith
Education
13. Mark Mitchell
Public Service
SOEs
Sports & Recreation
14. Barbara Kuriger
Energy & Resources
Rural Communities
Food Safety
Associate Transport
15. Gerry Brownlee
Foreign Affairs
GCSB & NZSIS
Associate Finance
16. Nicola Willis
RMA (Housing)
Housing & Urban Development
(including Social)
Associate Economic Development
17. Stuart Smith
Climate Change
Viticulture
18. Jacqui Dean
Conservation
Assistant Speaker
19. Todd Muller
Trade & Export Growth
Internal Affairs
20. Simeon Brown
Police
Corrections
SFO
Youth
21. Matt Doocey
Chief Whip
Mental Health
Associate Social Development & Employment
Associate Health
22. Maureen Pugh
Junior Whip
Community & Voluntary Sector
Emergency Management
23. Nick Smith
Research & Science
Electoral Reform
24. Chris Penk
Shadow Attorney-General
Defence
Courts
Veterans
25. Simon O'Connor
Customs
Arts, Culture & Heritage
Associate Foreign Affairs
26. Erica Stanford
Immigration
Early Childhood Education
27. Ian McKelvie
Seniors
Forestry
Racing
Disability Issues
28. Tim van de Molen
Oceans & Fisheries
Animal Welfare
Building & Construction
29. Nicola Grigg
Women
Associate Trade
Associate Arts, Culture & Heritage
30. Christopher Luxon
Local Government
Iwi Development
Associate Transport
31. Joseph Mooney
Treaty Negotiations
Associate Defence
Associate Tourism
32. Penny Simmonds
Tertiary Education
Associate Agriculture
Associate Disability Issues
33. Simon Watts
ACC
Associate Health
