December 15, 2008 9:00am by David Farrar

Select Committee Chairs

The full list of Select Committee Chairs is online now. They are:

  1. Commerce – Lianne Dalziel with Peseta Sam Lotu-liga as Deputy. Dalziel is an excellent choice, and Sam is being marked for promotion.
  2. Education & Science – Allan Peachey with Chris Carter as Deputy. Allan’s educational background makes him a natural choice. I doubt he’ll be working much with his Deputy!
  3. Finance & Expenditure – Craig Foss with Chris Tremain as Deputy. The Hawke’s Bay takeover is complete! The chairmanship of this Committee is normally seen as the final step before being a Minister.
  4. Foreign Affairs, Defence & Trade – John Hayes with Jacqui Dean as Deputy. John is a former MFAT staffer so knows the subject matter well.
  5. Government Administration – David Parker with Jacqui Dean again as Deputy. Parker was a very sucessful businessman but has not impressed so much in Parliament, but this role will be little challenge.
  6. Health – Paul Hutchison with Ruth Dyson as Deputy. Dr Hutchison is a natural choice for Health. The tenaciosu Ruth Dyson may challenge him, and the contribution of a former DHB CEO (Kevin Hague) will be interesting to watch.
  7. Justice & Electoral – Chester Borrows with Simon Bridges as Deputy. The former cop turned lawyer and the former crown prosecutor will be a strong team. Bridges likely to takeover when Borrows becomes a Minister.
  8. Law & Order – Sandra Goudie with Clayton Cosgrove as Deputy. Goudie and Cosgrove may agree on more than they they disagree.
  9. Local Government & Environment – Chris Auchinvole with Nicky Wagner as Deputy. Very interesting to have the MP for West Coast-Tasman chairing the Environment committee.
  10. Maori Affairs – Tau Henare with Hone Harawria as Deputy. Both have been MP for Te Tai Tokerau. If Tau wins promotion, then Hekia Parata could well become Chair – unless she gets promoted to Cabinet at the same time – or before.
  11. Primary Production – Shane Ardern with Colin King as Deputy. The affable Ardern will bring first hand experience to the role.
  12. Regulations Review – Charles Chauvel will bring is legal skills to this low profile but important committee.
  13. Social Services – Jo Goodhew with Katrina Shanks as Deputy. Goodhew is another who is likely to use Chair as a stepping stone to Cabinet.
  14. Transport & industrial Relations – David Bennett, who needs a job now that Winston taunting is no longer.

Peter Dunne was already announced as the ETS Review Chair.  Labour are chairing three select committes. Somewhat surprisingly neither ACT nor Maori Party are chairing any – but that might be as their senior MPs are mainly Ministers.