Simon Bridges has announced a reshuffle of the National Party list (Image / Supplied)

National Party reshuffle: 'Phil Twyford is on notice, Judith is coming'

Author: NZ Herald, Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2018, 2:42pm

National leader Simon Bridges' reshuffle will see five new faces on the party's front bench of its top 10 MPs.

The big winners in the reshuffle include Judith Collins, who moves up to be fourth-ranked MP and will take on Labour's Phil Twyford in Housing and Urban Development – one of the areas Bridges has identified as fertile ground for attacks on the Labour – NZ First Government.

In his announcement, Bridges said he expects "Phil Twyford will find it hard tonight to sleep."

He added that housing was a "top issue for New Zealanders" when questioned on why he felt there was a need for a housing spokesperson when National had previously split that up in Government.

#BREAKING @JudithCollinsMP is number four in National's new line-up. She's taking on the Housing and Urban Development portfolio. Watch out Phil Twyford - Judith is coming for you. More details at 2:30pm today. pic.twitter.com/C9KOyRERlr
— NZ National Party (@NZNationalParty) March 11, 2018

Other new faces on the front are Todd McClay, who takes Foreign Affairs, Trade and Tourism; Mark Mitchell who gets Justice and Defence; Jami-Lee Ross who gets Infrastructure and Transport.

The relatively low profile Paul Goldsmith will get a chance to change that – he is ranked at 9 and will take on the massive Economic Development and Regional Development areas, going head to head against NZ First's Shane Jones and Economic Development Minister David Parker.

Nikki Kaye is at 10 and will keep the education beat. The top 10 is completed by current frontbenchers Jonathan Coleman who keeps health, Bridges, his deputy Paula Bennett and finance spokeswoman Amy Adams. Bennett will do social investment, tertiary education and women.

Despite Bridges' talk about introducing new talent, the highest ranked MP from the 2014 intake is Sarah Dowie, who squeaked in at 20 and will get conservation. Dowie was one of those Bridges had mentioned as impressive.

The reshuffle sees demotions for Gerry Brownlee who drops from four to 11 but takes over as Shadow Leader of the House and gets the intelligence agencies and the America's Cup. Michael Woodhouse drops from 10 to 13, losing housing and picking up Immigration and Workplace Relations – another area of focus for National.

There are three women in the top five and eight in the top 20.