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Clark reshuffles NZ Cabinet for 2008 election
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15:49, October 31, 2007

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New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark unveiled Wednesday the biggest-ever Cabinet reshuffle ahead of next year's election.

Mark Burton has opted to step down as Justice Minister and is to return to Labor's back benches.

Dover Samuels is replaced as a Minister outside Cabinet by Darren Hughes, while Pete Hodgson loses his health portfolio and Damien O'Connor loses corrections portfolio.

Trevor Mallard drops three rankings to No. 10, losing his frontbench seat as punishment for punching National MP Tau Henare last week.

Mallard loses his economic development portfolio, and sport and Rugby World Cup portfolios.

Of the newcomers, Ms. Chadwick becomes Conservation and Women's Affairs Minister as well as an associate minister of health.

Street picks up housing, as well as associate portfolios in tertiary education and economic development.

Shane Jones becomes Minister of Building issues as well as associate roles in treaty negotiations, immigration and trade.

Clark told a media conference Wednesday the changes "injected fresh blood" into Cabinet ranks.

More than half the ministers named were not in Cabinet in 1999.

Local media said Clark has made a big -- but not bold -- reshuffle, much of it forced upon her by resignations, sackings and punch-ups.

NZPA, Auckland-based news agency, said the reshuffle "is a bid to rejuvenate Labor's line-up ahead of next year's election."

In a latest poll Clark is still the preferred Prime Minister stakes, but her Labor party is lagging well behind in the latest political opinion poll.

The Herald DigiPoll showed Monday the oppositional National Party has widened the gap on Labor, with 51.2 percent support compared with Labor's 38.8 percent.

Source: Xinhua



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