Nicola Willis takes on Finance

National leader Christopher Luxon has appointed Nicola Willis as Finance spokesperson.

Luxon announced it this morning after Bridges’ resignation yesterday, saying Willis was the right person to take the Government to tack over the cost of living and “wasteful spending decisions.”

It is a return to the days of the deputy also holding the finance role – as was the case when Sir John Key was leader and Bill English his deputy.

“Nicola has an incredible intellect, prodigious work ethic and proven ability to hold the Government to account as we’ve seen her do on housing. She will build on National’s track record as the best economic managers to help Kiwis get ahead.”

He pointed to Willis’ background as a member of Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Select Committee and previously held a number of senior management roles at Fonterra.

He said she also understands how finance interacts with the other portfolios across Government – and prior to politics had a good business and commercial orientation after working at Fonterra.

Willis said it was important to have good people around you, and National had a good team of advisers to develop a fiscal “and most importantly an economic growth plan”. . . 

Chris Bishop takes on responsibility for housing infrastructure portfolios and moves up one place to number three in the caucus. Shane Reti moves up to four and Paul Goldsmith climbs seven places to five.

National lost a lot of political experience last election but a team with the right skills, ability and financial acumen will make a better government than one full of political and bureaucratic experience but little knowledge or experience of life and business outside politics which is what we’ve got now.