Peeni Henare Takes Over Foreign Affairs
Labour's Peeni Henare will pick up the foreign affairs portfolio, following David Parker's departure from Parliament.
He retains his other portfolios of defence, economic development, Māori-Crown relations: Te Arawhiti and associate health.
Lawyer and human rights advocate Vanushi Walters returns to Parliament this week and will pick up shadow Attorney-General and associate foreign affairs.
'I am delighted to have Vanushi Walters returning to Parliament,' Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said.
'She, Peeni Henare and Phil Twyford will make a formidable team in the important portfolio of foreign affairs.
'New Zealand has a proud history of independent foreign policy, but Christopher Luxon's Government is not standing up for New Zealand in a more and more divisive and unstable world.
'My expectations of this team will be to ensure we are ready to step back into Government in 2026. That we have clear, principled positions that make sense to New Zealanders.
'David Parker provided a fantastic platform for Labour to build on in this space. His experience and passion will be missed, and I wish him all the best as he embarks on life after politics,' Chris Hipkins said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
26 minutes ago
- Scoop
ACT MP Welcomes Changes To Anti-Stalking Bill, Calls For Urgent Action On Newer Forms Of Abuse
Press Release – ACT New Zealand Patterns of abusive behaviour deserve to be recognised by the law, and these changes will help victims seek justice, ACT MP Laura McClure. ACT MP Laura McClure is welcoming changes made at select committee to strengthen the proposed anti-stalking law, but says more must be done to protect New Zealanders from modern forms of digital abuse, particularly sexually explicit deepfakes. 'I'm pleased to see the Government respond to public concern about stalking with more robust and practical legislation,' says McClure. 'Patterns of abusive behaviour deserve to be recognised by the law, and these changes will help victims seek justice. 'But we can't stop here. As technology evolves, so do the tools of harassment and abuse. Sexually explicit AI-generated deepfakes made without consent are a fast-growing threat, especially to young people and women. 'I have a members' bill in the ballot that would create a specific offence for the creation and distribution of non-consensual sexually explicit deepfake content. This should be adopted as a Government Bill. 'Deepfakes are harming real people today, and the law is failing to keep up. 'The same commitment to protecting stalking victims should extend to those targeted by synthetic sexual abuse. We need clear, targeted laws so police can act, courts can prosecute, and victims can get justice.'
Scoop
34 minutes ago
- Scoop
Calling The Voices Of Tairāwhiti To Enrol, Stand And Vote
Tō Reo, Tō Mana, Your Voice, Your Power – is the call to action from the Gisborne District Council to encourage the people of Tairāwhiti to participate in this year's local body elections and referendum this October. Council Chief Executive Nedine Thatcher-Swann says now is the time for people to check they're enrolled and their contact details are up to date — especially for those thinking about standing for Council or wanting to make sure their vote, and their voice, counts. 'Elected members play a vital role in our communities. They uphold the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and make decisions that impact our local services, rules, investment and plans for the future of our region,' she says. 'Standing for Council is about stepping up to represent your whānau, community and values. Bringing their voices and ideas forward to make important decisions for the future of our community over the next three years.' 'You don't need any special qualifications. Strong communication, leadership, and decision-making skills are helpful, as is being open-minded, respectful and having a genuine commitment to your community.' 'It's also essential that we see more of our community exercising their right to vote when papers are posted out in September,' says Ms Thatcher Swann. "In 2022, only 43% of those enrolled in Tairāwhiti voted, with Māori and young people notably under-represented. This year, we're rolling out an impactful campaign ahead of election day to inspire more people totake action." This year people must also decide the future of Māori Wards for Tairāwhiti in a referendum. 'A decision to keep or remove Māori Wards will determine how our community is represented in the future.' Anyone considering standing for the 2025 elections will need to choose whether to run in the Māori Ward (5 seats), the General Ward (8 seats), or for Mayor (1). To help potential candidates understand what's involved in being an elected member, Council is hosting a series of Candidate Information Evenings during June and July. These events are an opportunity to learn more about what it means to become an elected member, the requirements for the role, including time commitments, responsibilities, and the rules around campaigning. 'These are relaxed and informative evenings where you can ask questions and get a real feel for what's involved in becoming an elected member,' says Ms Thatcher-Swann. 'Whether you're passionate about infrastructure, housing, the environment, or local development, standing for Council is an opportunity to represent your community and influence the future of Te Tairāwhiti.' Thinking about standing for Council? To be eligible, you must be a New Zealand citizen, aged 18 or over, and enrolled on the parliamentary electoral roll. You'll need to complete a nomination form, have it signed by two people enrolled in the ward that you're standing in, and pay a $200 deposit. Nominations open Friday 4 July and close at 12 noon on Friday 1 August. Nomination forms will be available from Council offices and on the Council website. Late nominations will not be accepted. For more information about how to stand, candidate requirements, and upcoming information evenings, visit
Scoop
34 minutes ago
- Scoop
Enrol To Have Your Say On Who Makes The Big Decisions For Our District
If you want to have a say on who will set rates and make decisions on roads, rubbish and water services for New Plymouth district for the next three years – make sure your enrolment details are up to date. People who have moved house or turned 18 since in the past three years, will need to update their details on the electoral roll by 1 August. And if you want to switch between the Māori and General roll, you need to do that by 10 July. For New Plymouth District Council, there will be elections for: Mayor 14 Councillors 20 Community Board members. Whether you are a home owner or renter, the decisions our elected members make on things like rates, roads and rubbish services to playgrounds, parks, libraries and local facilities, impacts everyone. Additionally, there are also choices to make for positions on the Taranaki Regional Council and a poll on whether to retain our Māori ward for future elections. Go to to find out how to update your enrolment details or phone 0800 36 76 56. Fast facts Nominations to stand in this year's local election open 4 July and close midday 1 August Voting papers will start being delivered from 9 September with voting closing midday 11 October. In 2022 – 77 candidates put their hands up to stand for positions in our district. NPDC voter turnout for the last election was 45.1 per cent – just behind the 45.3 per cent for previous election but ahead of the national average of 40.4 per cent.
