New Government Ministerial positions announced

Following the formation of the Labour, New Zealand First and Green Party Government, Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern has announced Ministerial portfolio responsibilities.

Jacinda Ardern said "I am proud of my Ministers. The team well knows the responsibilities they are taking on. We are all ready and determined to make a difference as we govern for all New Zealanders."

Key positions relevant to family and whānau violence include:

Minister of JusticeAndrew LittleParliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Justice (Domestic and Sexual Violence Issues)Jan LogieMinister for Social DevelopmentCarmel SepuloniMinister for ChildrenTracey MartinMinister for Child Poverty ReductionJacinda ArdernMinister for WomenJulie-Anne GenterMinister for Māori DevelopmentNanaia MahutaMinister for Whānau OraPeeni HenareMinister for Pacific PeoplesAupito William SioMinister for Ethnic CommunitiesJenny SalesaMinister for Disability IssuesCarmel SepuloniMinister of HealthDavid ClarkMinister for ACC IainLees-GallowayMinister of EducationChris HipkinsMinister of PoliceStuart NashMinister of CorrectionsKelvin DavisMinister for the Community and Voluntary SectorPeeni Henare

A full list of Ministers is available from the Labour Party.

The coalition agreement between Labour and New Zealand First includes the priority/goal to "Increase funding for family violence networks, including Women’s Refuge and Shakti." (page 4)

Policy statements on family and whānau violence

Prior to the election, political parties provided policy statements on family and whānau violence.

Women's Refuge requested policy statements from the major parties - the full party statements are available on the Women's Refuge website.

Tick 4 Kids and UNICEF created a family violence scorecard, based on the parties' policy positions.

For more analysis of policies, see the previous NZFVC news story Election 2017 - political parties' policies and family and whānau violence.

Media

Ministry for Vulnerable Children will be rebranded to drop 'vulnerable' from name, TVNZ, 26.10.17

Pay equity bill may get another chance with Green MP Julie Anne Genter as Women's Minister, NZ Herald, 25.10.2017

Revealed: Labour and Greens confidence and supply agreement, Newshub, 24.10.2017

Revealed: Labour and NZ First's coalition agreement, Newshub, 24.10.2017

New govt urged to keep 'social investment approach', Radio NZ, 24.10.2017

The (likely) inquiry into abuse in state care: An opportunity for discomfort and reflection, Eileen Joy, Reimagining Social Work, 23.10.2017

Social Service Providers welcome change of focus, News release: Social Service Providers Aotearoa (SSPA), 20.10.2017

Ardern vows to improve Cabinet gender balance, Radio NZ, 20.10.2017

Measuring poverty: don’t miss the point, Jess Berentson-Shaw, Newsroom, 18.10.2017

Image: Parliament House by Michal Klajban (Hikingisgood.com) (own work), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons