McClay Nats' new ag spokesman

The news comes in the wake of the announcement by Todd Muller that he would not seek re-election this year.

Muller, a former leader of the National Party, took over the agriculture portfolio in an acting capacity last year after Barbara Kuriger had to resign the position amid a conflict of interest between her family and the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Luxon says McClay’s appointment to agriculture spokesperson will bring together the agriculture and trade portfolios under one spokesperson.

“Todd will lead National’s strong agriculture team of MPs and candidates including Nicola Grigg, Joseph Mooney, Suze Redmayne, and Miles Anderson,” he says.

“Agriculture does much of the heavy lifting in our economy – creating jobs, lifting incomes and feeding people all over the world,” he says. “National will campaign up and down the country to stop Labour’s war on farmers.”

It was also announced that local government and regional development spokesman Simon Watts will take on the climate change portfolio previously held by Muller.

Joseph Mooney will take over McClay’s tourism portfolio, and Kaipara Ki Mahurangi MP Chris Penk will be made National’s Cyclone Recovery spokesperson.