Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has given coalition partner David Seymour more responsibility over the Government's highly contentious legislation to redefine Treaty principles.
The ACT leader will now become an Associate Justice Minister, with responsibility for the Treaty Principles Bill, taking over responsibility for that issue from Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith.
Luxon said the changes "clarify" ministerial responsibility "in a small number of areas".
"Ministers have hit the ground running since they were sworn in nearly two months ago with strong progress made on the coalition Government's 100-day plan.
"Today's update further clarifies ministers' responsibilities in a small number of areas, supporting them in continuing to deliver on this Government's ambitious work programme," the PM said in a media release.
The Treaty Principles Bill was part of ACT's coalition deal with National, which allowed Luxon to form his government and become prime minister.
The prime minister and his Māori Development Minister have previously described a referendum on Treaty principles as "divisive" and "unhelpful".
Luxon has said National has "no intention" to support the bill beyond the first reading and select committee, but has refused to fully commit to voting it down at later stages.
The ACT leader said there was “no commitment in either direction” for his proposed Treaty Principles Bill. (Source: Breakfast)
Seymour told Breakfast yesterday: "When the prime minister says there's no commitment to go further, that means that he is not committing to go further but he also is not saying that he won't."
In addition to his new justice portfolio, the ACT leader is also currently an associate minister with oversight of education and finance portfolios. He is also an associate minister with portfolio responsibility over charter schools and Pharmac.
Several other changes were also announced to ministerial allocations today.
Luxon said: "Mark Patterson takes on the role of the Associate Minister for Regional Development, and Jenny Marcroft has been appointed as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries.
"Erica Stanford assumes responsibility for matters relating to the Crown's response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.
"These changes have no impact on the make-up of Cabinet or the size of the executive."
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