NEW ZEALAND Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern unveiled a diverse cabinet yesterday as she announced an NZ$50 billion (£26bn) Covid response and recovery package to deal with the longer-term economic impact of the pandemic.

Ms Ardern’s 20-strong cabinet includes eight women. Five members are Maori, three have Pasifika backgrounds and three are LGBT.  Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson is the first gay man to hold the role.

“I still get a lot of emails and messages from young gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who look towards us to provide that kind of role-modelling,” he said. “So, I’ll keep doing my job the way that I’ve been doing it, but I’m very proud to have the role.”

Maori MP Nanaia Mahuta was appointed foreign minister, becoming the first woman to hold the post in New Zealand’s history.

She was the first woman to wear the traditional “moko” facial tattoo in New Zealand’s parliament, and replaces populist New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, who failed to be returned in the October 17 election.

Ms Mahuta said she was “absolutely privileged” to take on the role and was “very proud to have such a diverse group of new ministers and ministers continuing in new roles because of merit.”