Experienced: Chris Penk to be New Zealand’s Defence Minister. Image: LinkedIn.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced a refreshed ministerial lineup, which includes the elevation of Chris Penk to Cabinet, replacing the outgoing Judith Collins as New Zealand’s Minister of Defence.
“Having successfully delivered significant reforms from outside Cabinet, Chris Penk will now join Cabinet, picking up the Defence, GCSB and NZSIS, and Space portfolios,” stated the Prime Minister.
“Chris’ time in the NZDF leaves him well placed to lead the work our Government has done in raising the status and capability of our armed forces.”
Mr Luxon also acknowledged the service of Judith Collins, who is retiring as a Member of Parliament.
“Judith was first elected in 2002 and since then, has held numerous different ministerial portfolios and served as Leader of the Opposition. This term, she has delivered the Defence Capability Plan, advanced New Zealand’s space industry and modernised of our public service.
Mr Penk will transition to his new portfolios from his current roles as Minister for Building and Construction, Minister for Land Information, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing, Minister for Veterans, Associate Minister of Defence, Associate Minister for Emergency Management and Associate Minister of Immigration.
Mr Penk is no stranger to Defence. The local MP for the Kaipara ki Mahurangi electorate in Auckland’s rural north and northwest, he entered Parliament in 2017 and became Opposition Spokesperson for Defence in 2020, taking over that role from Mark Mitchell.
Mr Penk studied at the University of Auckland, gaining a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours). He then joined the Royal New Zealand Navy, serving on HMNZS Te Kaha.
In a December 2020 article he wrote for Line of Defence Magazine, Mr Penk commented “I am a big believer in the role played by our nation’s military, perhaps partly due to my own background. Prior to entering Parliament, I served in the Royal New Zealand Navy and then the Royal Australian Navy, as a young man during the period 2000–2008.”
Mr Penk as Reviewing Officer at a Recruit Territorial Force 170 graduation parade. Image: LinkedIn.
He served as navigating officer on HMAS Sheean (a Royal Australian Navy Collins-class submarine) and deployed to the Northern Arabian Gulf as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Defence & National Security public affairs consultancy Museum Street Strategies, in a post on LinkedIn, described the change in Defence Minister as “a transition to a highly qualified policy-maker.”
“His service in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) gives him a unique, first-hand perspective on the “seamless” integration required for our closest security partnership,” stated Museum Street.
“For industry partners, having a Minister who understands maritime platforms and sub-surface operations is a significant advantage in high-level capability discussions.”
The change in ministerial arrangements will come into effect on Tuesday 07 April.