New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has unveiled his new cabinet, demoting senior figures as he sharpens his focus ahead of an October election.
Mr Hipkins has also introduced a new portfolio - the Ministry for Auckland - and axed the COVID-19 ministry in his shake-up.
The newly sworn-in PM unveiled his new cabinet on Tuesday, putting his own stamp on the government following Jacinda Ardern's exit.
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has kept her job as New Zealand's chief diplomat but has lost her local government portfolio in one of the reshuffle's biggest moves.
Ms Mahuta, first appointed to foreign affairs in 2020, has drawn criticism for her lack of travel - particularly into the Pacific - during her tenure.
Mr Hipkins said he "expected that she will be out and about travelling more" given her reduced load and the end to virtually all border restrictions.
Supporting Ms Mahuta is Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni, who has been made associate minister for the Pacific.
Ms Mahuta has been demoted down the cabinet rankings along with other long-term MPs Andrew Little and David Parker, with Phil Twyford dumped from cabinet altogether.
Mr Little has been moved from health to defence, while Peeni Henare has swapped defence for tourism.
In other changes, Mr Hipkins has scratched the COVID-19 portfolio, which will be overseen by new health minister Ayesha Verrall, one of the reshuffle's big winners.
Dr Verrall, an infectious diseases specialist, has rocketed up the cabinet rankings, as has new education minister Jan Tinetti, new regional development minister Kiri Allan and Michael Wood.
Mr Wood, a relative newcomer mooted as a leadership contender following Ms Ardern's exit, has been named the Minister for Auckland.
New Zealand's biggest city - currently beset by floods after record rainfall - was ground zero for dissatisfaction towards Ms Ardern's government, owing to lingering resentment from a 107-day lockdown in late 2021.
"When Auckland succeeds, the country succeeds," Mr Hipkins said as he aims to turn that animosity around.
"I know that the last few years have been particularly tough for the City of Sails.
"I want to have a minister with a focus on the city and in aligning this with his transport portfolio, we are ensuring that Auckland has the senior ministerial focus that it needs."
Early polling numbers suggest Kiwis are willing to give Mr Hipkins a go in the top job.
Polls from television stations TVNZ and Three released on Monday night gave Labour a five percentage point boost, putting the centre-left incumbents one point ahead of centre-right opposition National.
The polling also suggests Ms Ardern did her party a favour by departing ahead of the October 14 election.
Mr Hipkins says his government will be "focused on core bread and butter issues like the cost of living, education, health, housing and keeping communities and businesses safe" as New Zealand confronts a forecasted recession in late 2023.
"We need a greater focus on what's in front of New Zealanders right now," he said.
Joining cabinet will be Kieran McAnulty, who takes local government, small business minister Ginny Andersen, and Pacific peoples minister Barbara Edmonds.
