28 August 2002

New Zealand First Caucus

New Zealand First has made a number of changes to its line up for the Parliamentary term.

Deputy Leader Peter Brown has been appointed Whip while former Whip Ron Mark will be given increased responsibility in a spokesman’s role.

Mr Peters paid tribute to Mr Mark’s performance over the past six years and said he had carried the role with patience and dignity through sometimes trying circumstances.

“You can’t leave a man at the bottom a ruck for six years and not spell him. It is time for Ron to move on to other things.”

Mr Peters said he would be spending a lot of time on the road in the coming months and Mr Mark would spend a considerable amount of time accompanying him.

“It is therefore very appropriate for Peter Brown, as Deputy Leader to take over the role of Whip, and we are confident he will also do an excellent job.”

Mr Peters has released a preliminary list of Caucus responsibilities and said these would be confirmed as soon as possible.

ENDS

PRELIMINARY CAUCUS RESPONSIBILITIES

RT HON WINSTON PETERS
MAJOR PORTFOLIOS
Commerce, Economic Development, Finance, Immigration Racing, Revenue, SOE’s

PETER BROWN
MAJOR PORTFOLIOS
Accident Insurance, Energy, Labour, Transport

BRENT CATCHPOLE
MAJOR PORTFOLIOS
Communications & IT, Environment, BioSecurity, Internal Affairs, Tourism
ASSOCIATE PORTFOLIOS
Transport

BRIAN DONNELLY
MAJOR PORTFOLIOS
Education, ERO, Pacific Island Affairs, Science & Technology CRIS, Arts & Culture, Sport

BILL GUDGEON
MAJOR PORTFOLIOS
Veterans Affairs, Maori Affairs
ASSOCIATE PORTFOLIOS
Law & Order, Defence

DAIL JONES
MAJOR PORTFOLIOS
Customs, Attorney General, Courts, Trade
ASSOCIATE PORTFOLIOS
Immigration
Foreign Affairs & Trade

CRAIG McNAIR
MAJOR PORTFOLIOS
Youth Affairs
ASSOCIATE PORTFOLIOS
Family, Tourism

RON MARK
MAJOR PORTFOLIOS
Defence, Corrections, Civil Defence, Law & Order, Disarments & Arms Control

PITA PARAONE
MAJOR PORTFOLIOS
Housing, Fisheries, Health

EDWIN PERRY
MAJOR PORTFOLIOS
Conservation
ASSOCIATE PORTFOLIOS
Corrections, Maori Affairs

JIM PETERS
MAJOR PORTFOLIOS
Local Government, Regional Development
ASSOCIATE PORTFOLIOS
Education

BARBARA STEWART
MAJOR PORTFOLIOS
Family (Womens Affairs, Senior Citizens, Social Services), Industry Training

DOUG WOOLERTON
MAJOR PORTFOLIOS
Rural Affairs, Forestry

As at August 2002

© Scoop Media