Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Wairarapa MP Kieran McAnulty during a visit to Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre in 2019. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
McAnulty earns roles outside cabinet
GEORGE SHIERS
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Wairarapa MP Kieran McAnulty has been promoted to Minister Outside Cabinet.
He will have a focus on regional issues after a Cabinet shuffle on Tuesday, becoming Minister for Emergency Management and Racing, Associate Minister of Local Government and Transport and Deputy Leader of the House.
McAnulty said he was ‘stoked’ that the position would allow Wairarapa to have a voice among the decision-makers and would benefit the region.
“I’m stoked, it’s a huge honour. There are quite a few members of the Labour Party caucus and they’ve chosen me to fill that gap and that’s a huge privilege.
“This is good news for the region. Wairarapa now has a voice among the decision-makers, which hasn’t happened for quite some time.”
McAnulty said he couldn’t talk about policy until he was sworn in as minister, however said the portfolio he was most excited about was racing and that was what he had been hoping to get.
“I’m really pleased with the profiles the Prime Minister has offered me, it touches on my experience as I worked for Masterton District Council and I have past experience in racing.
“[Racing is the] one I’m particularly stoked about, I’m so passionate about the racing industry.
“Some people have some quite strong views about whether there should be a racing minister, obviously I feel there should be.
“Racing is more than just going to the track and having a punt it’s actually a significant export industry and it contributes as much to the GDP as fisheries and nobody is suggesting we should get rid of the fisheries minister.”
McAnulty said that although the roles meant he would need to spend more time in Wellington, he was still committed to spending time in the electorate.
“On the whole, this is good news to the region and although I’ll have to spend more time down in Wellington I’m committed to having a presence in the region.
“I’ll still be able to do it quite a bit, Wairarapa is close enough to Wellington and the offset is an increase in access.
“Yeah okay you’ll spend less time in the electorate but you’ve got more opportunities to advocate for them being a part of the executive, so I think there’s a trade-off and that’s not a bad thing.”
McAnulty was sworn in as Minister yesterday afternoon and briefed on his new portfolios.
