New Prime Minister Chris Hipkins’ reshuffle has catapulted Wairarapa MP Kieran McAnulty into Cabinet and landed him two new ministerial roles.
McAnulty has been promoted to Minister of Local Government, having previously been associate minister to Nanaia Mahuta in the portfolio.
He also picks up Minister for Rural Communities from Damien O’Connor.
He retains his roles as Minister for Racing, Minister for Emergency Management and Deputy Leader of the House, while losing Associate Minister of Transport.
Now number 18 in the ministerial pecking order, McAnulty has enjoyed a meteoric rise recently, having only been made a minister outside of cabinet in June last year.
“I was honoured to be asked by the Prime Minister to be a Cabinet Minister in the Government he leads,” McAnulty said.
“Wairarapa has not had an electorate MP in Cabinet since Hon Wyatt Creech, so I am excited about the opportunity to provide a voice for my community at the top table.”
McAnulty said holding the portfolios for local government, emergency management and rural communities will enable a joined-up approach to climate change initiatives.
