Shadow Cabinet of Helen Clark

Last updated

New Zealand political leader Helen Clark assembled a "shadow cabinet" system amongst the Labour caucus following her election to the position of Leader of the Opposition in 1993. She composed this of individuals who acted for the party as spokespeople in assigned roles while she was Leader of the Opposition (1993–99).

Contents

As the Labour Party formed the largest party not in government, the frontbench team was as a result the Official Opposition of the New Zealand House of Representatives.

List of shadow ministers

PortfolioMinisterStartEnd
Leader Helen Clark 1 December 199310 December 1999
Deputy Leader David Caygill 1 December 199311 June 1996
Michael Cullen 11 June 199610 December 1999
Agriculture Jim Sutton 1 December 199310 December 1999
Attorney-General David Caygill 1 December 199320 December 1996
Phil Goff 20 December 19968 August 1997
Lianne Dalziel 8 August 199710 December 1999
Commerce Peter Dunne 1 December 199312 October 1994
Annette King 18 October 199420 December 1996
Paul Swain 20 December 199610 December 1999
Customs Peter Dunne 1 December 199312 October 1994
Annette King 18 October 199420 December 1996
Rick Barker 20 December 199610 December 1999
Defence Geoff Braybrooke 1 December 199310 December 1999
Education Margaret Austin 1 December 199329 June 1995
David Caygill 29 June 199526 June 1996
Trevor Mallard 26 June 199610 December 1999
Finance Michael Cullen 1 December 199310 December 1999
Foreign Affairs David Lange 1 December 199329 June 1995
Helen Clark 29 June 199518 September 1996
Mike Moore 18 September 199631 August 1999
Phil Goff 1 September 199910 December 1999
Health Lianne Dalziel 1 December 19938 August 1997
Annette King 8 August 199710 December 1999
Internal Affairs Trevor Mallard 1 December 199310 December 1999
Justice Phil Goff 1 December 199310 December 1999
Labour Steve Maharey 1 December 19938 August 1997
Pete Hodgson 8 August 199710 December 1999
Maori Affairs Koro Wētere 1 December 199320 December 1996
Dover Samuels 20 December 199610 December 1999
Overseas Trade Jack Elder 1 December 19934 April 1996
Jim Sutton 4 April 199618 September 1996
Mike Moore 18 September 199631 August 1999
Jim Sutton 1 September 199910 December 1999
Revenue Peter Dunne 1 December 199312 October 1994
Jim Sutton 13 October 199420 December 1996
Mark Peck 20 December 199610 December 1999
Social Welfare Clive Matthewson 1 December 199329 June 1995
Annette King 29 June 19958 August 1997
Steve Maharey 8 August 199710 December 1999
Transport Harry Duynhoven 1 December 199310 December 1999

Frontbench teams

1993–96

The lists below contains a list of Clark's spokespeople and their respective roles during the 44th Parliament. In the lead up to MMP several party defections took place during the parliamentary term, making reshuffles commonplace. [1]

Clark announced her first lineup on 13 December 1993. [2] Less than a year later, in October 1994, Peter Dunne split from Labour, leading to a rearranging of portfolios. Dunne's commerce and customs portfolios were given to Annette King and the revenue portfolio transferred to Jim Sutton. His seat on the frontbench was allocated to Steve Maharey. [3] In June 1995 two MPs, Clive Matthewson and Margaret Austin, left Labour to form a new party, United New Zealand. Deputy Leader David Caygill took the education portfolio from Austin and Annette King was given Matthewson's Social Welfare portfolio. In the same reshuffle Clark took on foreign affairs due to the impending retirement of David Lange. [4]

In June 1996 Caygill announced his retirement and the education portfolio was given to Trevor Mallard. [5] Jack Elder defected to New Zealand First in April 1996 and his overseas trade portfolio was allocated to Jim Sutton. In September 1996 the former leader Mike Moore, who had previously declined to take any portfolio, accepted the foreign affairs and overseas trade portfolios. [6]

First iteration

RankShadow MinisterPortfolio/s
1Rt Hon Helen Clark Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Minister of Security Intelligence Services
2Hon David Caygill Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Attorney-General
3Hon Michael Cullen Shadow Minister of Finance
Shadow Minister of Statistics
4Hon Koro Wētere Shadow Minister of Maori Affairs
5Rt Hon Jonathan Hunt Shadow Leader of the House
Senior Whip
6Rt Hon David Lange Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs
Shadow Minister of Racing
7Hon Clive Matthewson Shadow Minister of Social Welfare
Shadow Minister for the Audit Department
8Hon Phil Goff Shadow Minister of Justice
9Hon Annette King Shadow Minister of Immigration
Shadow Minister of Business & Industry
10Hon Peter Dunne Shadow Minister of Revenue
Shadow Minister of Commerce
Shadow Minister of Customs
11 Lianne Dalziel Shadow Minister of Health
Shadow Minister for ACC
12Hon Margaret Austin Shadow Minister of Education
Shadow Minister of Science & Technology
13Hon Jim Sutton Shadow Minister of Agriculture
Shadow Minister of Forestry
Shadow Minister of Lands
14 Trevor Mallard Shadow Minister of State Services
Shadow Minister of Internal Affairs
Shadow Minister of Civil Defence
Shadow Minister of Sport and Recreation
15Hon Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan Shadow Minister of Maori Welfare
Shadow Minister of Family Affairs
16 Elizabeth Tennet Shadow Minister of Women's Affairs
Shadow Minister of State Owned Enterprises
17 Steve Maharey Shadow Minister of Labour
Shadow Minister of Employment
18 Pete Hodgson Shadow Minister for the Environment
Shadow Minister of Energy
19 Jack Elder Shadow Minister of Overseas Trade
20 Graham Kelly Shadow Minister of Fisheries
Shadow Minister of Broadcasting
21 Larry Sutherland Junior Whip
22Rt Hon Mike Moore no portfolio
23 John Blincoe Shadow Minister of Conservation
24 Paul Swain Shadow Minister of Housing
25 Geoff Braybrooke Shadow Minister of Defence
Shadow Minister of Veterans Affairs
26 Richard Northey Shadow Minister of Local Government
Shadow Minister of Youth Affairs
27 George Hawkins Shadow Minister of Police
Shadow Minister for the Serious Fraud Office
28 Ross Robertson Shadow Minister of Tourism
Shadow Minister of Small Business
29 Judith Tizard Shadow Minister of Cultural Affairs
30 Judy Keall Shadow Minister of Senior Citizens
Shadow Minister of Consumer Affairs
31 Harry Duynhoven Shadow Minister of Transport

Final iteration

RankShadow MinisterPortfolio/s
1Rt Hon Helen Clark Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Minister of Security Intelligence Services
2Hon Michael Cullen Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Minister of Finance
Shadow Minister of Statistics
3Rt Hon Mike Moore Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs
Shadow Minister of Overseas Trade
4 Steve Maharey Shadow Minister of Labour
Shadow Minister of Employment
5Hon Koro Wētere Shadow Minister of Maori Affairs
6Rt Hon Jonathan Hunt Shadow Leader of the House
Senior Whip
7Hon Phil Goff Shadow Minister of Justice
8Hon Annette King Shadow Minister of Social Welfare
Shadow Minister of Immigration
Shadow Minister of Business & Industry
Shadow Minister of Commerce
Shadow Minister of Customs
9Hon David Caygill Shadow Attorney-General
10Rt Hon David Lange Shadow Minister of Racing
11 Lianne Dalziel Shadow Minister of Health
12 Trevor Mallard Shadow Minister of Education
Shadow Minister of State Services
Shadow Minister of Internal Affairs
Shadow Minister of Civil Defence
Shadow Minister of Sport
13Hon Jim Sutton Shadow Minister of Agriculture
Shadow Minister of Forestry
Shadow Minister of Lands
Shadow Minister of Revenue
14Hon Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan Shadow Minister of Social Development
Shadow Minister of Family Affairs
15 Elizabeth Tennet Shadow Minister of Women's Affairs
Shadow Minister of State Owned Enterprises
16 Pete Hodgson Shadow Minister for the Environment
Shadow Minister of Energy
17 Graham Kelly Shadow Minister of Fisheries
Shadow Minister of Broadcasting
18 Larry Sutherland Junior Whip
19 John Blincoe Shadow Minister of Conservation
20 Paul Swain Shadow Minister of Housing
Shadow Minister for ACC
21 Geoff Braybrooke Shadow Minister of Defence
Shadow Minister of Veterans Affairs
22 Richard Northey Shadow Minister of Local Government
Shadow Minister of Youth Affairs
23 George Hawkins Shadow Minister of Police
Shadow Minister of Serious Fraud Office
24 Ross Robertson Shadow Minister of Tourism
Shadow Minister of Small Business
25 Judith Tizard Shadow Minister of Cultural Affairs
26 Judy Keall Shadow Minister of Senior Citizens
Shadow Minister of Consumer Affairs
27 Harry Duynhoven Shadow Minister of Transport
28 Chris Carter Shadow Minister of Ethnic Affairs
29 Taito Phillip Field Shadow Minister of Pacific Island Affairs

1996–99

The list below contains a list of Clark's spokespeople and their respective roles during the 45th Parliament: [7]

Clark announced her first post-election lineup on 20 December 1996. [8] In August 1997 there was a reshuffle surrounding the removal of Lianne Dalziel as Shadow Minister of Health. She was instead made Shadow Attorney-General and given the portfolios of immigration, youth affairs and statistics. Annette King replaced her as Shadow Minister of Health with King's social welfare and racing portfolios being transferred to Steve Maharey and Damien O'Connor respectively. Jill Pettis gained the conservation portfolio from Pete Hodgson who was given labour from Maharey. [9] In September 1999 Jim Sutton resigned as Shadow Minister of Forestry after a policy disagreement. The portfolio was given to Pete Hodgson. [10] After Mike Moore left Parliament to become Director-General of the World Trade Organization the foreign affairs portfolio was given to Phil Goff and overseas trade allocated to Jim Sutton. [11]

First iteration

RankShadow MinisterPortfolio/s
1Rt Hon Helen Clark Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Minister of Security Intelligence Services
2Hon Michael Cullen Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Minister of Finance
Shadow Minister of Statistics
3Rt Hon Mike Moore Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs
Shadow Minister of Overseas Trade
4 Steve Maharey Shadow Minister for Labour
Shadow Minister of Employment
5Rt Hon Jonathan Hunt Shadow Leader of the House
Shadow Minister of Constitutional Affairs
6Hon Phil Goff Shadow Minister of Justice
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister of Corrections
Shadow Minister of Courts
7Hon Annette King Shadow Minister of Social Welfare
Shadow Minister of Immigration
Shadow Minister of Racing
8 Lianne Dalziel Shadow Minister of Health
9Hon Jim Sutton Shadow Minister of Agriculture
Shadow Minister of Treaty Negotiations
Shadow Minister of Lands
Shadow Minister of Fisheries
Shadow Minister of Forestry
10 Trevor Mallard Shadow Minister of Education
Shadow Minister of State Services
Shadow Minister of Internal Affairs
Shadow Minister of Sport and Recreation
11 Pete Hodgson Shadow Minister of Conservation
Shadow Minister for the Environment
Shadow Minister of Industry
Shadow Minister of Energy
12 Graham Kelly Shadow Minister of Housing
Shadow Minister of Overseas Aid
13 Paul Swain Shadow Minister of Commerce
Shadow Minister of State Owned Enterprises
14 Judy Keall Shadow Minister of Senior Citizens
Shadow Minister of Consumer Affairs
15 Geoff Braybrooke Shadow Minister of Defence
Shadow Minister of Veterans Affairs
Shadow Minister of War Pensions
16 George Hawkins Shadow Minister of Police
Shadow Minister of Serious Fraud Office
17 Ross Robertson Shadow Minister of Regional Development
Shadow Minister of Small Business
18 Judith Tizard Shadow Minister of Local Government
Shadow Minister of Cultural Affairs
19 Harry Duynhoven Shadow Minister of Transport
Shadow Minister of Civil Aviation
20 Larry Sutherland Shadow Minister of Family Affairs
21 Mark Burton Senior Whip
Shadow Minister of Adult & Community Education
22 Rick Barker Junior Whip
Shadow Minister of Customs
23 Ruth Dyson Shadow Minister of ACC
Shadow Minister of Disability Services
24 Taito Phillip Field Shadow Minister of Pacific Island Affairs
25 Janet Mackey Shadow Minister of Civil Defence
26 Damien O'Connor Shadow Minister of Tourism
27 Mark Peck Shadow Minister of Revenue
28 Jill Pettis Shadow Minister of Youth Affairs
29 Dianne Yates Shadow Minister of Women's Affairs
Shadow Minister of Disarmament
30 Tim Barnett Shadow Minister of Urban Affairs
31 Mark Gosche Shadow Minister of Ethnic Affairs
Shadow Minister for Public Transport
32 Joe Hawke Shadow Minister of Economic Development
Shadow Minister of Employment
33 Marian Hobbs Shadow Minister of Broadcasting
Shadow Minister of Communications
Shadow Minister of Information Technology
34 Nanaia Mahuta Shadow Minister of Maori Education
35 Dover Samuels Shadow Minister of Maori Affairs
36 Tariana Turia Shadow Minister of Maori Health & Youth Issues

Final iteration

RankShadow MinisterPortfolio/s
1Rt Hon Helen Clark Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Minister of Security Intelligence Services
2Hon Michael Cullen Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Minister of Finance
3 Steve Maharey Shadow Minister for Social Welfare
Shadow Minister of Employment
4Rt Hon Jonathan Hunt Shadow Leader of the House
Shadow Minister of Constitutional Affairs
5Hon Phil Goff Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs
Shadow Minister of Justice
Shadow Minister of Corrections
Shadow Minister of Courts
6Hon Annette King Shadow Minister of Health
7 Lianne Dalziel Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister of Immigration
Shadow Minister of Youth Affairs
Shadow Minister of Statistics
8Hon Jim Sutton Shadow Minister of Agriculture
Shadow Minister of Trade
Shadow Minister of Treaty Negotiations
Shadow Minister of Lands
Shadow Minister of Fisheries
9 Trevor Mallard Shadow Minister of Education
Shadow Minister of Internal Affairs
Shadow Minister of Sport
10 Pete Hodgson Shadow Minister of Labour
Shadow Minister of Industry
Shadow Minister of Energy
Shadow Minister of Forestry
11 Graham Kelly Shadow Minister of Housing
Shadow Minister of Overseas Aid
12 Paul Swain Shadow Minister of Commerce
Shadow Minister of State Owned Enterprises
13 Judy Keall Shadow Minister of Senior Citizens
Shadow Minister of Consumer Affairs
14 Geoff Braybrooke Shadow Minister of Defence
Shadow Minister of Veterans Affairs
Shadow Minister of War Pensions
15 George Hawkins Shadow Minister of Police
Shadow Minister of Serious Fraud Office
16 Ross Robertson Shadow Minister of Regional Development
Shadow Minister of Small Business
17 Judith Tizard Shadow Minister of Local Government
Shadow Minister of Cultural Affairs
18 Harry Duynhoven Shadow Minister of Transport
Shadow Minister of Civil Aviation
19 Larry Sutherland Shadow Minister of Family Affairs
20 Mark Burton Senior Whip
Shadow Minister of Adult & Community Education
21 Rick Barker Junior Whip
Shadow Minister of Customs
22 Ruth Dyson Shadow Minister of ACC
Shadow Minister of Disability Services
23 Taito Phillip Field Shadow Minister of Pacific Island Affairs
24 Janet Mackey Shadow Minister of Civil Defense
25 Damien O'Connor Shadow Minister of Tourism
Shadow Minister of Racing
26 Mark Peck Shadow Minister of Revenue
27 Jill Pettis Shadow Minister of Conservation
28 Dianne Yates Shadow Minister of Women's Affairs
Shadow Minister of Disarmament
29 Tim Barnett Shadow Minister of Human Rights
Shadow Minister of Urban Affairs
30 Mark Gosche Shadow Minister of Ethnic Affairs
Shadow Minister of Public Transport
31 Joe Hawke Shadow Minister of Economic Development
Shadow Minister of Employment
32 Marian Hobbs Shadow Minister of Broadcasting
Shadow Minister of Communications
Shadow Minister of Information Technology
33 Nanaia Mahuta Shadow Minister of Maori Education
34 Dover Samuels Shadow Minister of Maori Affairs
35 Tariana Turia Shadow Minister of Maori Health & Youth Issues

Notes

  1. Russell 1996, p. 243.
  2. "The Labour Shadow Cabinet". The Dominion . 14 December 1993. p. 2.
  3. Goulter, John (18 October 1994). "King takes over Dunne's duties". The Evening Post . p. 2.
  4. "Party launch elevates King". The Evening Post . 29 June 1995. p. 1.
  5. Laugesen, Ruth (27 June 1996). "Promotion for Clark's supporters". The Dominion . p. 2.
  6. Speden, Graeme (19 September 1996). "Moore returns to Labour's top ranks". The Dominion . p. 1.
  7. "Labour spokespeople by portfolio". Archived from the original on 5 December 1998. Retrieved 10 February 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. Boyd, Sarah (20 December 1996). "'Govt in waiting' announced". The Evening Post . p. 2.
  9. Venter, Nick; Ross, Frances (9 August 1997). "Dalziel dumped from health job". The Dominion .
  10. Peters, Graeme (10 September 1999). "Sutton quits over forestry policy". The Evening Post . p. 3.
  11. "Sutton tipped for Labour trade post". The Dominion . 14 September 1999. p. 2.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Moore (New Zealand politician)</span> Prime Minister of New Zealand in 1990

Michael Kenneth Moore was a New Zealand politician, union organiser, and author. In the Fourth Labour Government he served in several portfolios including minister of Foreign Affairs, and was the 34th prime minister of New Zealand for 59 days before the 1990 general election elected a new parliament. Following Labour's defeat in that election, Moore served as Leader of the Opposition until the 1993 election, after which Helen Clark successfully challenged him for the Labour Party leadership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Dunne</span> New Zealand politician

Peter Francis Dunne is a retired New Zealand politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ōhāriu. He held the seat and its predecessors from 1984 to 2017—representing the Labour Party in Parliament from 1984 to 1994, and a succession of minor centrist parties from 1994. He was the Leader of Future New Zealand from 1994 to 1995, United New Zealand from 1996 to 2000, and United Future from 2000 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Maharey</span> New Zealand politician

Steven Maharey is a former Member of Parliament for Palmerston North in New Zealand, as a member of the Labour Party. In the fifth Labour Government, he held various ministerial roles including Minister of Education and Minister of Social Developing and Employment, before standing down before the 2008 general election to become the Vice-Chancellor at Massey University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lianne Dalziel</span> New Zealand politician

Lianne Audrey Dalziel is New Zealand politician and the current Mayor of Christchurch. Prior to this position, she was a member of the New Zealand Parliament for 23 years, serving as Minister of Immigration, Commerce, Minister of Food Safety and Associate Minister of Justice in the Fifth Labour Government. She resigned from Cabinet on 20 February 2004 after apparently lying about a leak of documents to the media, but was reinstated as a Minister following Labour's return to office after the 2005 election. She resigned from Parliament effective 11 October 2013 to contest the Christchurch mayoral election. The incumbent, Bob Parker, decided not to stand again. She was widely regarded as the top favourite and won with a wide margin to become the 46th Mayor of Christchurch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Prebble</span> New Zealand politician

Richard William Prebble is a former member of the New Zealand Parliament. Initially a member of the Labour Party, he joined the newly formed ACT New Zealand party under Roger Douglas in 1996, becoming its leader from 1996 to 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annette King</span> New Zealand politician

Dame Annette Faye King is a former New Zealand politician. She served as Deputy Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 2008 to 2011, and from 2014 until 1 March 2017. She was a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand, and was the MP for the Rongotai electorate in Wellington from 1996 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Swain (politician)</span> New Zealand politician

Paul Desmond Swain is a New Zealand former politician. He is a member of the Labour Party.

Jack Arnold Elder is a New Zealand former politician. He was an MP from 1984 to 1999, representing the Labour Party, New Zealand First and Mauri Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren Cooper</span> New Zealand politician

Warren Ernest Cooper is a former New Zealand politician. He was a National Party MP from 1975 to 1996, holding cabinet positions including Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence. Cooper also twice served as Mayor of Queenstown, from 1968 to 1975 and 1995 to 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Caygill</span> New Zealand politician

David Francis Caygill is a former New Zealand politician. Caygill was born and raised in Christchurch. He entered politics in 1971 as Christchurch's youngest city councillor at the age of 22. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1978 to 1996, representing the Labour Party. A supporter of Rogernomics, he served as Minister of Finance between 1988 and 1990. From 2010 to 2019, he was one of the government-appointed commissioners at Environment Canterbury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shadow Cabinet of Neil Kinnock</span>

Neil Kinnock was Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition from 2 October 1983 to 18 July 1992. He convincingly defeated Roy Hattersley, Eric Heffer, and Peter Shore in the 1983 leadership election, which was prompted by Michael Foot's resignation following the disastrous general election result earlier that year. Kinnock's period as Leader encompassed the bulk of the Thatcher premiership and the first two years of the Major premiership. Kinnock resigned in 1992 after losing his second election as Leader.

Andrew Little assembled a shadow cabinet after he was elected Leader of the Labour Party in New Zealand. He composed this of individuals who acted for the party as spokespeople in assigned roles while he was Leader of the Opposition (2014–17). As the Labour Party formed the largest party not in government, this Frontbench team was as a result the Official Opposition of the New Zealand House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election</span>

The 1996 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election was intended to determine the future leadership of the New Zealand Labour Party. The leadership was retained by Mount Albert MP Helen Clark, who was the incumbent leader.

New Zealand political leader Bill Rowling assembled a shadow cabinet system amongst the Labour caucus following his position change to Leader of the Opposition in 1975. He composed this of individuals who acted for the party as spokespeople in assigned roles while he was leader (1975–83).

New Zealand political leader Jim McLay assembled a "shadow cabinet" system amongst the National caucus following his election to the position of Leader of the Opposition in 1984. He composed this of individuals who acted for the party as spokespeople in assigned roles while he was Leader of the Opposition (1984–86). McLay was plagued by interference from previous leader Robert Muldoon, who was denied a place on National's frontbench which he desired, unlike McLay who wished him to retire to the backbenches as an 'elder statesmen'.

A leadership election was held for the New Zealand Labour Party on 21 December 1988. The incumbent leader David Lange was re-elected with 72% of the vote. To date it is the only instance when a sitting Prime Minister has been challenged for leadership in a caucus vote.

New Zealand political leader Jim Bolger assembled a "shadow cabinet" within the National Party caucus after his election to the position of Leader of the Opposition in 1986. He composed this of individuals who acted for the party as spokespeople in assigned roles while he was Leader of the Opposition (1986–90).

New Zealand political leader David Lange assembled a shadow cabinet system amongst the Labour caucus following his election to the position of Leader of the Opposition in 1983. He composed this of individuals who acted for the party as spokespeople in assigned roles while he was leader (1983–84).

New Zealand political leader Mike Moore assembled a shadow cabinet system amongst the Labour caucus following his change of position to Leader of the Opposition in 1990. He composed this of individuals who acted for the party as spokespeople in assigned roles while he was leader (1990–93).

Jacinda Ardern announced a reshuffled shadow cabinet on 3 August 2017, just two days after she was elected Leader of the Labour Party in New Zealand. The changes were relatively minor and mostly kept the structure inherited from her predecessor Andrew Little. As the Labour Party formed the largest party not in government, this Frontbench team was as a result the Official Opposition of the New Zealand House of Representatives.

References