New National leader Judith Collins strips health portfolio from Michael Woodhouse

Woodhouse, who picks up two other portfolios, is replaced by Shane Reti.

New National leader Judith Collins has taken the health portfolio from Michael Woodhouse and is giving it to Shane Reti, after Mr Woodhouse was entangled in last week's Covid-19 leak scandal

Dr Reti will be promoted to National's front bench.

"He is delighted with that, as am I," Ms Collins said. 

"I think we have in Dr Shane Reti someone who is not only a medical doctor but a specialist and someone who has even worked at Harvard."

The new leader is trying to mute the messy saga that still has a QC investigation to come.

Mr Woodhouse was given the Pike River Recovery and Regional Economic Development portfolios.

On July 10, it was revealed Mr Woodhouse received private Covid-19 patient information from Michelle Boag, after fellow MP Hamish Walker leaked similar data to the media, also sent by the ex-National Party president.

"I recognised that the information in those emails was private so I did not share it with anyone else and I subsequently deleted them," he said at the time.

Former leader Todd Muller said he knew on July 7 that  Mr Woodhouse  had been sent confidential patient information by Michelle Boag.

Ms Collins was announced as the new Opposition leader last night, after Mr Muller make a shock resignation yesterday morning. 

"I've discussed with him the fact that when he received the information from Ms Boag, people's personal private information, I feel that the thing for him to have done would have been to advise her not to send him anything," Ms Collins said today. 

"It would have been better to advise the Minister of Health straight away."

Ms Collins is taking on the national security portfolio and Leader of the Opposition. 

National were intending to announce the entire party reshuffle today, but it has been delayed until tomorrow. 

Collins was tonight elected to lead National after Todd Muller stepped down.

National's last major reshuffle was on May 25 - three days after Todd Muller rolled Simon Bridges. 

Mr Muller came under fire for a lack of diversity in his front bench, along with the leadership team at the time incorrectly  calling Paul Goldsmith Māori .

Almost two weeks ago, National had another reshuffle after Paula Bennett announced her decision to stand down after the upcoming election. 

Former leader Simon Bridges was given the role of foreign affairs spokesperson and 17th list placing. 

Shane Reti moved up from number 17 to 13, Ms Bennett's former ranking, and was given associate drug reform spokesperson. 

SHARE ME

More Stories