Who got what

Shane Jones, Maryan Street and Steve Chadwick all go into Cabinet with Clark sacking Mark Burton.

Darren Hughes replaces Dover Samuels as a Minister outside Cabinet.

Mallard is back to the second row and loses economic development, sport and RWC.

Hodgson loses health.

UPDATE: Now have the full list.

The two new front benchers are Chris Carter and David Cunliffe.  Note I was one of the very few predicting Carter would get Education and the front bench.

Cunliffe gets health – wow a huge challenge.  He also keeps Comms/IT which I’m pleased with.

Cullen gets Treaty Negotiations from Burton.  Good – we may see some progress.

Goff, not Cosgrove, gets Corrections.  Safe.

Parker is No 13 now, and gets State Services.

The under used Annette King gets Justice.  Her and Goff will be a lot stronger than Burton and O’Connor.

Mallard drops to No 10 and gets Labour, Broadcasting and the Environment.

Dyson, as expected, picks up Social Development.

Cosgrove gets Immigration and Sport.

The newbies are Steve Chadwick with Conservation and Women’s Affairs.

Street gets Housing and ACC.

Surprisingly Jones doesn’t get much – Building Issues and a couple of Associates.

Good old Darren Hughes gets Statistics and some Associates.  I think he’ll manage 🙂

This is definitely the most extensive of Clark’s reshuffles.  Partly through necessity, not choice.  Still somewhat timid in some areas.  Interesting that Goff wasn’t moved into more major domestic portfolios.

I think they should have promoted Shane Jones up further and given him weightier portfolios.  Also Charles Chauvel I am sure would be capable of holding a more demanding portfolio than Statistics.

Cunliffe in Health is a gutsy move. Also dropping Burton can only be applauded.

Overall it should be somewhat successful.  The law & order team is stronger.  A new person in Health has been given the chance.  Carter should do fine in Education, albeit I’ll hate his policies.

Mallard “demotion” is almost laughable though.  They’ve actually increased his workload and given him more important portfolios, and left him at the highest place possible on the second row.

Finally you have to feel for any Labour backbenchers not selected, who will be looking at the fact that Judith Tizard is going stay a Minister for the entire nine years, while they don’t even get a look in!