New Zealand political leader Norman Kirk assembled a "shadow cabinet" system amongst the Labour caucus following his elevation to become Leader of the Opposition in 1965. However, he found it challenging to avoid it being composed mainly of Auckland and Christchurch MPs.
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.
The list below contains a list of Kirk's spokespeople and their respective roles:
| Rank | Shadow Minister | Portfolio/s | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor= | 1 | Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs | |||
| bgcolor= | 2 | Deputy Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister of Works Shadow Minister of Electricity | |||
| bgcolor= | 3 | Shadow Minister of Finance Shadow Minister of Statistics | |||
| bgcolor= | 4 | Shadow Minister of Overseas Trade Shadow Minister of Marketing Shadow Minister of Broadcasting Shadow Minister of Mines | |||
| bgcolor= | 5 | Shadow Minister of Labour Shadow Minister of Immigration Shadow Minister of State Services | |||
| bgcolor= | 6 | Shadow Minister of Maori Affairs Shadow Minister of Fisheries Shadow Minister of Forests | |||
| bgcolor= | 7 | Shadow Minister of Social Welfare Shadow Minister for Youth Shadow Minister for Recreation | |||
| bgcolor= | 8 | Shadow Minister of Industries & Commerce Shadow Minister of Customs | |||
| bgcolor= | 9 | Shadow Minister of Education Shadow Minister of Science Shadow Minister of Arts | |||
| bgcolor= | 10 | Shadow Minister of Defence Shadow Minister of Island Territories | |||
| bgcolor= | 11 | Shadow Attorney-General Shadow Minister of Justice Shadow Minister of Police | |||
| bgcolor= | 12 | Shadow Minister of Housing Shadow Postmaster-General | |||
| bgcolor= | 13 | Shadow Minister of Agriculture Shadow Minister of Lands | |||
| bgcolor= | 14 | Shadow Minister of Internal Affairs Shadow Minister of Local Government Shadow Minister for Civil Defence | |||
| bgcolor= | 15 | Shadow Minister of Transport Shadow Minister of Marine Shadow Minister of Railways Shadow Minister of Tourism | |||
| bgcolor= | 16 | Shadow Minister of Health | |||
| bgcolor= | 17 | Shadow Minister of the Environment Shadow Minister of Conservation | |||
| bgcolor= | 18 | Shadow Minister of Racing | |||