Chris Penk and Penny Simmonds have been promoted to Cabinet as the Prime Minister undertakes a reshuffle of ministerial roles.
First-term MPs Cameron Brewer and Mike Butterick have also been appointed as ministers outside Cabinet.
The changes follow the upcoming retirements of Judith Collins and Dr Shane Reti, who will both step down at the election.
Collins’ portfolios, including defence, space, and oversight of the GCSB and NZSIS, have been assigned to Penk. Paul Goldsmith will take responsibility for the public service and digital government initiatives, while Chris Bishop assumes the role of Attorney-General.
Bishop’s former position as Leader of the House has been passed to Louise Upston.
Bishop, previously serving as National’s campaign chair, was expected to step back from some ministerial responsibilities to lighten his workload ahead of the election. Instead, he has had to give up the campaign chair role, which has now been taken over by Simeon Brown.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon explained that Bishop’s “massive workload” — covering housing, transport, infrastructure, RMA reform, and his new role as attorney-general — made relinquishing the campaign chair position necessary.
“He’s key to our team, he’s a critical part of our senior leadership group,” Luxon said.
Luxon dismissed suggestions that the move was related to rumours Bishop was tallying support against him last year.
Simmonds has taken over Reti’s science, innovation, and technology portfolio, while his universities role has been abolished to create a new position for Simmonds as minister for tertiary education.
She previously served as minister for vocational education and the environment, with the latter now assigned to Nicola Grigg, who continues to serve outside Cabinet.
Goldsmith has also been appointed as the new minister for Pacific Peoples. Meanwhile, Brewer, who has been chairing Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee has been appointed minister of commerce and consumer affairs, as well as minister for small business and manufacturing.
Butterick will take on the role of minister for land information.
Brewer will also oversee supermarket reforms, taking over from Scott Simpson, the former Commerce and Consumer Affairs minister.
Brown will take on the energy portfolio from Simon Watts, while Watts assumes Brown’s role as minister for Auckland. Matt Doocey stays in Cabinet, retaining only his current role as minister for mental health.
Luxon’s lineup has remained largely unchanged since January 2025, apart from promoting Scott Simpson to a ministerial role outside Cabinet after Andrew Bayly resigned.
The reshuffle affects only National Party ministers, so ACT’s Brooke van Velden will retain her portfolios despite announcing her retirement from Parliament at the election.