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 . He composed this of individuals who acted for the party as spokespeople in assigned roles while he was leader (1975–83).
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.
| Portfolio | Minister | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leader | 3 February 1983 | ||
| Deputy Leader | 1 November 1979 | ||
| 3 February 1983 | |||
| Agriculture | 24 December 1976 | ||
| 23 March 1979 | |||
| 3 February 1983 | |||
| Attorney-General | 7 December 1978 | ||
| 14 December 1979 | |||
| 13 March 1981 | |||
| 3 February 1983 | |||
| Defence | 26 February 1977 | ||
| 7 December 1978 | |||
| 14 December 1979 | |||
| 13 March 1981 | |||
| 3 February 1983 | |||
| Education | 3 February 1983 | ||
| Finance | 14 December 1979 | ||
| 19 February 1982 | |||
| 3 February 1983 | |||
| Foreign Affairs | 26 February 1977 | ||
| 7 December 1978 | |||
| 23 March 1979 | |||
| 14 December 1979 | |||
| 13 March 1981 | |||
| 3 February 1983 | |||
| Health | 14 December 1979 | ||
| 13 March 1981 | |||
| 19 February 1982 | |||
| 3 February 1983 | |||
| Housing | 26 February 1977 | ||
| 14 December 1979 | |||
| 18 July 1980 | |||
| 3 February 1983 | |||
| Justice | 7 December 1978 | ||
| 14 December 1979 | |||
| 13 March 1981 | |||
| 3 February 1983 | |||
| Labour | 14 December 1979 | ||
| 13 March 1981 | |||
| 19 February 1982 | |||
| 3 February 1983 | |||
| Maori Affairs | 7 December 1978 | ||
| 14 December 1979 | |||
| 3 February 1983 | |||
| Social Welfare | 7 December 1978 | ||
| 14 December 1979 | |||
| 13 March 1981 | |||
| 19 February 1982 | |||
| 3 February 1983 | |||
| Trade and Industry | 7 December 1978 | ||
| 8 May 1981 | |||
| 3 February 1983 | |||
| Transport | 23 March 1979 | ||
| 14 December 1979 | |||
| 30 June 1980 | |||
| 19 February 1982 | |||
| 3 February 1983 | |||
| Works and Development | 23 March 1979 | ||
| 19 February 1982 | |||
| 3 February 1983 | |||
Rowling announced his first shadow cabinet in January 1976. It contained many changes following the defeat of many senior MPs in the 1975 general election and the death of Stan Whitehead.[1]
| Rank | Shadow Minister | Portfolio/s | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor= | 1 | Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs Shadow Minister of Overseas Trade | ||
| bgcolor= | 2 | Deputy Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister of Finance Shadow Minister of Revenue | ||
| bgcolor= | 3 | Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry | ||
| bgcolor= | 4 | Shadow Minister of Justice Shadow Attorney-General | ||
| bgcolor= | 5 | Shadow Minister for Social Welfare | ||
| bgcolor= | 6 | Shadow Minister of Labour Shadow Minister of Employment | ||
| bgcolor= | 7 | Shadow Minister of Agriculture Shadow Minister of Science & Technology | ||
| bgcolor= | 8 | Shadow Minister of Defence | ||
| bgcolor= | 9 | Shadow Minister of Transport Shadow Minister of Communications | ||
| bgcolor= | 10 | Shadow Minister of Maori Affairs | ||
| bgcolor= | 11 | Shadow Minister of Tourism Shadow Minister for Family Affairs | ||
| bgcolor= | 12 | Shadow Minister of Immigration | ||
| bgcolor= | 13 | Shadow Minister of Housing | ||
| bgcolor= | 14 | Shadow Minister of Works and Development | ||
| bgcolor= | 15 | Shadow Minister of Education | ||
| bgcolor= | 16 | Shadow Minister of Lands | ||
| bgcolor= | 17 | Shadow Minister for Sport & Recreation Shadow Minister for the Arts | ||
| bgcolor= | 18 | Shadow Minister of Customs | ||
| bgcolor= | 19 | Shadow Minister of Health | ||
| bgcolor= | 20 | Shadow Minister of Forests | ||
| bgcolor= | 21 | Shadow Minister of State Services Senior Whip | ||
| bgcolor= | 22 | Shadow Minister of Energy Junior Whip | ||
| bgcolor= | 23 | Shadow Minister of Local Government | ||
| bgcolor= | 24 | Shadow Minister of Fisheries | ||
| bgcolor= | 25 | Shadow Minister of Police | ||
| bgcolor= | 26 | Shadow Minister of Marine | ||
| bgcolor= | 27 | Shadow Minister of Broadcasting | ||
| bgcolor= | 28 | Shadow Minister of Women's Affairs | ||
| bgcolor= | 29 | Shadow Postmaster-General | ||
| bgcolor= | 30 | Shadow Minister for the Environment | ||
| bgcolor= | 31 | Shadow Minister of Statistics | ||
Rowling reallocated the portfolios of his shadow cabinet in February 1977 following the resignation of Colin Moyle who left parliament after controversial allegations made the previous year. Gerald O'Brien was relieved of all portfolios also following controversial allegations and recorded as being "on leave".[2]
| Rank | Shadow Minister | Portfolio/s | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor= | 1 | Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister of Broadcasting | ||
| bgcolor= | 2 | Deputy Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister of Finance Shadow Minister of Revenue | ||
| bgcolor= | 3 | Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs Shadow Minister of Overseas Trade Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry | ||
| bgcolor= | 4 | Shadow Minister of Justice Shadow Attorney-General | ||
| bgcolor= | 5 | Shadow Minister for Social Welfare | ||
| bgcolor= | 6 | Shadow Minister of Labour | ||
| bgcolor= | 7 | Shadow Minister of Housing | ||
| bgcolor= | 8 | Shadow Minister of Transport | ||
| bgcolor= | 9 | Shadow Minister of Maori Affairs | ||
| bgcolor= | 10 | Shadow Minister for Family Affairs | ||
| bgcolor= | 11 | Shadow Minister of Energy | ||
| bgcolor= | 12 | Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs | ||
| bgcolor= | 13 | Shadow Minister of Works and Development | ||
| bgcolor= | 14 | Shadow Minister of Education | ||
| bgcolor= | 15 | Shadow Minister of Agriculture | ||
| bgcolor= | 16 | Shadow Minister for Sport & Recreation Shadow Minister for the Arts | ||
| bgcolor= | 17 | Shadow Minister of Customs Shadow Minister for Regional Development | ||
| bgcolor= | 18 | Shadow Minister of Health | ||
| bgcolor= | 19 | Shadow Minister of Lands Shadow Minister of Forests | ||
| bgcolor= | 20 | Shadow Minister of Defence Senior Whip | ||
| bgcolor= | 21 | Shadow Minister of Immigration Junior Whip | ||
| bgcolor= | 22 | Shadow Minister of Mines | ||
| bgcolor= | 23 | Shadow Minister of Police | ||
| bgcolor= | 24 | Shadow Minister of Marine | ||
| bgcolor= | 25 | Shadow Minister of Local Government Shadow Minister for Race Relations | ||
| bgcolor= | 26 | Shadow Minister of Women's Affairs | ||
| bgcolor= | 27 | Shadow Minister of Tourism | ||
| bgcolor= | 28 | Shadow Minister for the Environment | ||
| bgcolor= | 29 | Shadow Postmaster-General | ||
| bgcolor= | 30 | Shadow Minister of Fisheries Shadow Minister of Horticulture | ||
Rowling reshuffled his shadow cabinet in December 1978 following Labour's defeat in the 1978 general election. He reduced the number of spokespersons from 31 to a more manageable 17. It was also notable for the omission of Matiu Rata as Shadow Minister of Maori Affairs, Rowling did not initially allocate the Maori Affairs portfolio to anyone else however.[3] [4]
Rowling announced changes in March 1979 owing to the ongoing illness of Bruce Barclay. Sir Basil Arthur was to act as agriculture spokesman and his shadow transport portfolio was given to Ron Bailey. Bailey's shadow works and development portfolio was given to Mick Connelly, who retained defence and police but the shadow foreign affairs role was transferred to Rowling. At the same time Mary Batchelor became spokesperson for women and family affairs.[5]
There was a minor reshuffle in October 1979. David Caygill was given charge of economic development to ease the workload of Bob Tizard, John Terris was given broadcasting from Ron Bailey and Arthur Faulkner (who at the time was in ill-health) was relieved of electoral reform and accident compensation to Ralph Maxwell and David Butcher respectively. Rowling made the decision to give the responsibilities to first-term MPs to "show off their abilities".[6] [7]
| Rank | Shadow Minister | Portfolio/s | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor= | 1 | Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister of Overseas Trade | ||
| bgcolor= | 2 | Deputy Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister of Finance Shadow Minister of Revenue | ||
| bgcolor= | 3 | Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry | ||
| bgcolor= | 4 | Shadow Minister of Transport Shadow Minister of Communications | ||
| bgcolor= | 5 | Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs Shadow Minister of Defence Shadow Minister of Police | ||
| bgcolor= | 6 | Shadow Minister of Energy Shadow Minister for the Environment | ||
| bgcolor= | 7 | Shadow Minister of Education | ||
| bgcolor= | 8 | Shadow Minister of Consumer Affairs | ||
| bgcolor= | 9 | Shadow Minister of Labour Shadow Minister of Employment | ||
| bgcolor= | 10 | Shadow Minister of Regional Development Shadow Minister of Tourism | ||
| bgcolor= | 11 | Shadow Minister of Housing | ||
| bgcolor= | 12 | Shadow Minister of Works and Development | ||
| bgcolor= | 13 | Shadow Minister of Agriculture Shadow Minister of Lands Shadow Minister of Forestry Shadow Minister of Fisheries | ||
| bgcolor= | 14 | Shadow Minister for Family Affairs | ||
| bgcolor= | 15 | Shadow Minister of Health | ||
| bgcolor= | 16 | Shadow Minister of Justice Shadow Attorney-General | ||
| bgcolor= | 17 | Shadow Minister for Social Welfare | ||
| bgcolor= | 18 | Shadow Minister of Local Government | ||
| bgcolor= | Shadow Minister of Women's Affairs | |||
| bgcolor= | Shadow Minister of Economic Development | |||
| bgcolor= | Shadow Minister of Broadcasting | |||
| bgcolor= | Shadow Minister for Accident Compensation | |||
| bgcolor= | Shadow Minister for Electoral Reform | |||
Rowling instituted a new system in December 1979 where the shadow cabinet was separated from the party caucus. The shadow cabinet was limited to 15 members, the leader and deputy leader were granted automatic entry with an election held for the remaining 13 positions. The remaining MPs were allocated portfolios in a wider group.[8] [9]
Roger Douglas was sacked from the shadow cabinet on 30 June 1980 for releasing an "Alternative Budget" against Rowling's wishes which caused a minor reshuffle.[10] Douglas' portfolios were given to Fraser Colman, while Colman's Housing portfolio was given to Mike Moore.[11]
| Rank | Shadow Minister | Portfolio/s | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor= | 1 | Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister of Finance | ||
| bgcolor= | 2 | Deputy Leader of the Opposition Shadow Attorney-General Shadow Minister of Justice Shadow Minister of Pacific Island Affairs | ||
| bgcolor= | 3 | Shadow Minister of Economic Development Shadow Minister of Energy | ||
| bgcolor= | 4 | Shadow Minister of Agriculture Shadow Minister of Fisheries | ||
| bgcolor= | 5 | Shadow Minister of Works and Development Shadow Minister of Police | ||
| bgcolor= | 6 | Shadow Minister of Housing | ||
| bgcolor= | 7 | Shadow Minister of Education Senior Whip | ||
| bgcolor= | 8 | Shadow Minister of Transport Shadow Minister of Communications | ||
| bgcolor= | 9 | Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry Shadow Minister of Overseas Trade | ||
| bgcolor= | 10 | Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs Shadow Minister of Defence | ||
| bgcolor= | 11 | Shadow Minister of Social Welfare Shadow Minister for Family Affairs | ||
| bgcolor= | 12 | Shadow Minister of Maori Affairs Shadow Minister of Lands | ||
| bgcolor= | 13 | Shadow Minister of Health | ||
| bgcolor= | 14 | Shadow Minister of Labour Shadow Minister of State Services | ||
| bgcolor= | 15 | Shadow Minister of Internal Affairs Shadow Minister of Local Government Shadow Minister of Sport & Recreation | ||
| bgcolor= | 16 | Associate Shadow Minister of Economic Development | ||
| bgcolor= | 17 | Associate Shadow Minister of Transport Associate Shadow Minister of Communications | ||
| bgcolor= | 18 | Associate Shadow Minister for Social Welfare Associate Shadow Minister of Health Associate Shadow Minister of Education | ||
| bgcolor= | 19 | Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations Associate Shadow Minister of Labour | ||
| bgcolor= | 20 | Shadow Minister of Production and Marketing | ||
| bgcolor= | 21 | Shadow Minister of Broadcasting | ||
| bgcolor= | 22 | Shadow Minister for ACC Shadow Minister for Youth | ||
| bgcolor= | 23 | Shadow Minister for the Electoral Department | ||
| bgcolor= | Shadow Minister of Women's Affairs | |||
| bgcolor= | Shadow Minister of Horticulture | |||
| bgcolor= | Shadow Minister for Constitutional Affairs Shadow Minister for Parliamentary Reform | |||
| bgcolor= | Shadow Minister of Railways | |||
| bgcolor= | Shadow Minister of Consumer Affairs | |||
| bgcolor= | Shadow Minister of Marine | |||
| bgcolor= | Shadow Minister of Employment Shadow Minister of Technology | |||
| bgcolor= | Shadow Postmaster-General | |||
| bgcolor= | Shadow Minister for Race Relations | |||
| bgcolor= | Shadow Minister of Tourism | |||
Rowling reshuffled his shadow cabinet in March 1981 in preparation for the general election scheduled for the end of the year. He did not reinstate Douglas to the shadow cabinet.[12] However, after Joe Walding unexpectedly announced his intention to retire, Rowling did reinstate Douglas to the shadow cabinet as his replacement in the Trade and Industry portfolio.[13]
| Rank | Shadow Minister | Portfolio/s | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor= | 1 | Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister of Finance | ||
| bgcolor= | 2 | Deputy Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs | ||
| bgcolor= | 3 | Shadow Minister of Economic Development Shadow Minister of Energy | ||
| bgcolor= | 4 | Shadow Minister of Agriculture Shadow Minister of Primary Industries | ||
| bgcolor= | 5 | Shadow Minister of Works and Development Shadow Minister of Defence Shadow Minister of Police | ||
| bgcolor= | 6 | Shadow Minister of Education | ||
| bgcolor= | 7 | Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry Shadow Minister of Overseas Trade | ||
| bgcolor= | 8 | Shadow Minister of Maori Affairs Shadow Minister of Lands | ||
| bgcolor= | 9 | Shadow Minister of Justice Shadow Attorney-General | ||
| bgcolor= | 10 | Shadow Minister of Employment Shadow Minister of Science & Technology | ||
| bgcolor= | 11 | Shadow Minister of Housing Shadow Minister for the Environment | ||
| bgcolor= | 12 | Shadow Minister for Health | ||
| bgcolor= | 13 | Shadow Minister for Social Welfare Shadow Minister of Pacific Island Affairs | ||
| bgcolor= | 14 | Shadow Minister of Local Government | ||
| bgcolor= | 15 | Shadow Minister of Consumer Affairs Shadow Minister of Stabilization | ||
| bgcolor= | 16 | Shadow Minister of Constitutional Affairs Associate Shadow Minister of Justice | ||
| bgcolor= | 17 | Shadow Minister of Labour Shadow Minister of Immigration | ||
| bgcolor= | 18 | Shadow Minister of Customs Shadow Postmaster-General | ||
| bgcolor= | 19 | Senior Whip | ||
| bgcolor= | 20 | Junior Whip | ||
| bgcolor= | 21 | Shadow Minister of Transport | ||
| bgcolor= | 22 | Shadow Minister of Internal Affairs Shadow Minister of Broadcasting | ||
Another election for the shadow cabinet was held on 4 February 1982 following Labour's narrow defeat in the 1981 general election.[14] Two members of the previous shadow cabinet, Michael Bassett and Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan, were voted out. Several changes were made to the membership via the caucus election results, after which Rowling reshuffled the portfolios.[15]
| Rank | Shadow Minister | Portfolio/s | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor= | 1 | Leader of the Opposition | |||
| bgcolor= | 2 | Deputy Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs | |||
| bgcolor= | 3 | Shadow Minister of Finance | |||
| bgcolor= | 4 | Shadow Minister of Agriculture Shadow Minister of Fisheries Shadow Minister of Forests | |||
| bgcolor= | 5 | Shadow Minister of Education Shadow Minister of Science and Technology Shadow Minister for the Environment | |||
| bgcolor= | 6 | Shadow Minister of Works and Development Shadow Minister of Mines | |||
| bgcolor= | 7 | Shadow Minister of Maori Affairs Shadow Minister of Lands | |||
| bgcolor= | 8 | Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry | |||
| bgcolor= | 9 | Shadow Minister of Defence Shadow Minister of Police | |||
| bgcolor= | 10 | Shadow Minister of Justice Shadow Attorney-General | |||
| bgcolor= | 11 | Shadow Minister of Overseas Trade Shadow Minister of Rural Banking | |||
| bgcolor= | 12 | Shadow Minister of Employment Shadow Minister of Regional Development Shadow Minister of Tourism | |||
| bgcolor= | 13 | Shadow Minister of Transport Shadow Minister of Railways Shadow Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Shadow Minister of Civil Aviation | |||
| bgcolor= | 14 | Shadow Minister of Energy | |||
| bgcolor= | 15 | Shadow Minister of Health Shadow Minister of Consumer Affairs | |||
| bgcolor= | 16 | Shadow Minister of Social Welfare Shadow Minister for ACC Shadow Minister of Constitutional Affairs | |||
| bgcolor= | 17 | Shadow Minister of Housing Shadow Minister of Customs | |||
| bgcolor= | 18 | Shadow Minister of Internal Affairs Shadow Minister of Local Government Shadow Minister of Civil Defence Shadow Minister of Sport and Recreation | |||
| bgcolor= | 19 | Shadow Minister for Labour Shadow Minister of State Services | |||
| bgcolor= | 20 | Senior Whip Shadow Minister of Broadcasting | |||
| bgcolor= | 21 | Junior Whip Shadow Postmaster-General | |||