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Smalley’s potential new role – nothing is yet confirmed – is understood to be separate from potential replacements for chief press secretary Hamish Rutherford, whose resignation was confirmed on Wednesday morning, several hours after Media Insider revealed he was planning to leave the role.
Rutherford’s departure by the end of the year – and deputy chief press secretary Jasmine Higginson’s upcoming maternity leave – will lead to a major reshaping of Luxon’s communications team.
The head of communications role is seen as a strategic role, likely overseeing all of the Beehive communications, press secretaries and communications strategy. The chief press secretary role is much more operationally aligned to Luxon. Depending on how the structure works, both roles could report to the chief of staff, or one might report to the other.
Other outside names in the mix for either of the roles could include former TVNZ political editor Jessica Mutch McKay, Air New Zealand head of communications Rachel Morton – she is also a former director of communications for the Act party – and The Post political editor Luke Malpass.
Within National’s ranks, Higginson is a potential candidate for the chief press secretary role, as is Mikaela Bossley, who works for Christopher Bishop.
Act leader David Seymour’s director of communications, Simon Clarke, and former National Party press secretary Finn Stichbury, who has been working for the broader party, might also be considerations.
NZ Herald
