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New Zealand picks new foreign minister in pre-election cabinet reshuffle

Xinhua, April 24, 2017 Adjust font size:

New Zealand is to have a new foreign minister from next month to replace the long-serving Murray McCully, Prime Minister Bill English announced Monday.

Gerry Brownlee, currently the Defense Minister, will take over the foreign affairs portfolio as McCully resigns from the Cabinet ahead of retirement and the government readies for a general election in September.

"As Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr McCully has improved existing relationships and developed new ones, all the while running a truly independent foreign policy for New Zealand," English said in tribute to the outgoing minister.

McCully, who has held his post since 2008, oversaw New Zealand's successful campaign for a United Nations Security Council seat in 2015 to 2016.

Also in Monday's reshuffle, English announced Land Information and Statistics Minister Mark Mitchell would be promoted to Cabinet to take over the defense portfolio.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye would take overall charge of the education portfolio from retiring Education Minister Hekia Parata.

The new ministers would be sworn in on May 2 and the new Cabinet will hold its first meeting on May 8. Endit