New Zealand PM brings sacked coalition partner back into government

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key reshuffled the ministerial portfolios Tuesday, reappointing a minor party coalition partner who resigned last year amid a controversy over the leaking of a report into a government spying agency. Peter Dunne, sole Member of Parliament for the United Future Party, was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs, Associate Minister of Health and Associate Minister of Conservation, all of the posts outside Cabinet, Key said in a statement. Key asked Dunne to resign in June last year after Dunne refused to cooperate with a ministerial investigation into the leaking of a report on the Government Communications Security Bureau, the government's external intelligence gathering agency. "I am pleased to welcome Peter Dunne back as a minister. We have worked together well in the past, and United Future continues to be a valued partner in government," said Key. "While 2013 brought its challenges, both Peter and I start this election yearlooking forward, not back." Social Development Minister Paula Bennett would also be taking on the local government portfolio as part of the reshuffle, which becomes effective on Jan. 28. The reshuffle was prompted by the announcement that Internal Affairs and Local Government Minister Chris Tremain would retire from Parliament at this year's general election, which must be held by November. Polling has shown the election result to be too close to call, meaning the support of minor parties could decide the next government. The governing coalition, led by Key's center-right National Party, includes three minor parties: the center-right United Future; the right-wing ACT party; and the Maori Party.