Prime Minister Christopher Luxon maintains he still has confidence in Dr Shane Reti, despite sacking him as Minister of Health.

This confidence has been expressed in the appointment of Dr Reti as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.

Dr Reti’s loss of the Health portfolio was one of the major changes in Mr Luxon’s Cabinet  reshuffle.

In the press statement he issued to announce the ministerial changes, Mr Luxon said:

“Dr Shane Reti will take on an important new role assuming responsibility for New Zealand’s universities and our science sector – both of which are expected to play a critical role in our economic growth plan.”

In his press statement, Mr Luxon didn’t say Judith Collins would be losing the Science, Innovation and Technology portfolio.

He did say:

“Judith Collins KC becomes Minister for the Public Service…”

The accompanying list of ministers and their jobs after the shake-up shows her portfolios are Attorney-General, Minister of Defence, Minister for Digitising Government, Minister for the Public Service, Minister Responsible for the GCSB, Minister Responsible for the NZSIS and Minister for Space.

The shifting of Dr Reti from Health – a political problem area for the government – did not surprise political commentators.

Opinion polls show New Zealanders are becoming increasingly concerned at the state of the health sector, which is struggling under staff shortages, governance problems, funding deficits, and the proposal to scale back Dunedin Hospital’s rebuild.

But having given the Health portfolio to Simeon Brown, Mr Luxon told news media:

“I haven’t lost confidence in Shane Reti,”

Dr Reti retains his Pacific Peoples portfolio, and has been appointed Minister of Statistics and of Science, Innovation, and Technology. He will also get a new Universities role.

“He’s going to do a great job on universities and the science sector, and that’s a very important job for us,” Mr Luxon said.

“But what we need is the skills that Simeon Brown brings, which is delivery and execution, and I want him to now bring that into our healthcare system.”

Judith Collins later tweeted:

“I am delighted that the Prime Minister has decided to add the role of Minister for the Public Service to my responsibilities. Although it replaces my beloved Science, Innovation and Technology portfolio, I am pleased that this exciting portfolio has been allocated to my good friend @DrShaneRetiMP who will now be able to combine a lot of the work in Science with being a dedicated Minister for Universities.”