The winners and losers of Christopher Luxon’s Cabinet reshuffle

Thursday, 2 April 2026

Simeon Brown gains Energy, Christopher Luxon says he’s trying to preserve Chris Bishop’s by taking three jobs away - and giving him a bigger one.

ANALYSIS: On the day before politicians go home to get their fill of hot cross buns and chocolate over the Easter break and Parliament goes into recess for a couple of weeks Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made it clear who has his backing and who needs to earn their keep.

A reshuffle has been on the cards for months after senior minister Judith Collins and Shane Reti announced they were handing in their ministerial warrants earlier this year.

Winners: Simeon Brown and Chris Penk

Simeon Brown has been given the nod by the prime minister to take on more responsibility, picking up the energy portfolio and becoming National’s campaign chair.

Brown has previously been the energy minister but not during a time where it is almost the central focus in daily political life around the country and the world.

Simeon Brown is known for getting the big jobs - health and now energy.

Luxon said he needed someone senior which is both a win for the Auckland MP and a hit to current energy minister Simon Watts (more on that soon).

While getting the campaign chair role isn’t very important to the average New Zealander, it is essential to the National Party and gives its holder an excuse to be involved with a massive amount of important work outside of Parliament. It shows Luxon’s faith in Brown’s ability to drive votes in November.

Chris Penk gets what many believed he deserves in the reshuffle. After successfully delivering on the Government’s changes to quake prone buildings he was long tipped to be brought into Cabinet.

He was also thought of being the natural successor to Judith Collins in the defence portfolio given he was already associate defence minister and had a background in the defence force, which Luxon acknowledged.

He also picks up portfolios often associated with defence, GCSB and NZSIS, and space.

Other winners include new ministers outside of Cabinet, Mike Butterick and Cameron Brewer, and new Cabinet minister Penny Simmonds.

Losers: Chris Bishop and Simon Watts

Chris Bishop: “There’s no point sugar coating. It’s a job I’ve enjoyed.”

It was flagged before Friday morning’s reshuffle that all was not well for Chris Bishop with The Post reporting that he was not pleased with the changes to his roles.

It was revealed on Friday what that role change was - losing leader of the house - which runs the business of the Government in Parliament, removing him as campaign chair, and removing his associate sports portfolio.

Speaking to media, Bishop said: “He’s made his decision, obviously loved being campaign chair and it is a role that I enjoy doing but you know it’s fine, I’ve got plenty of things to do.”

He later admitted he was disappointed to lose the leader of the house role.

“There's no point sugar coating. It's a job I've enjoyed. I was the shadow leader of the House on two or three occasions in opposition, and obviously worked for Gerry Brownlee when he was leader of the House, when I was a staffer here,” Bishop said.

“I love Parliament, so, yeah, look, I'm disappointed about that, but you know, as I say, I've got plenty of things to do.”

Bishop said he was “really happy” to pick up attorney general.

“It’s no secret I love the law and I love public law in particular and so you know it has been on my little wish list for my time in politics.”

Watts losing the energy portfolio at a time when many would determine it is of particular importance speaks to how the prime minister sees his abilities.

When asked whether Luxon had confidence in him he said, “Simon's a great contributor to our team, don't get me wrong, he's done an excellent job on energy.

“It's just I’m elevating it, because I'm just looking to the future, as I've been doing with Government, as we organise around this fuel response to make sure that we've got the right leadership in place.”

Penny Simmonds lost a role and has now gained two.

Watts indicated to media that he only found out about the change on Thursday morning.

BONUS: Surprises

In changes that came out of the blue, a notable contender (and winner) was Simmonds who made headlines in 2024 when she became a victim of Christopher Luxon’s first reshuffle, losing the disability issues portfolio.

The National MP has just picked up Reti’s portfolios of tertiary education and science and Innovation and Technology. She also has a seat around the Cabinet table, after being the environment minister and vocational education minister outside of Cabinet.

Another surprise was Paul Goldsmith picking up minister for Pacific peoples. He told media he hadn’t asked for the job but was very happy to have it.

For some analysts it would also come as a surprise James Meager who had become a well-known minister outside of Cabinet did not get his seat at the table of power.