Judith Collins has been reconfirmed as National Party leader, while former GP Shane Reti has been selected as her deputy, following a caucus vote.
"It is an enormous privilege to be reconfirmed as leader of the National Party," Collins said in a statement on Tuesday following the caucus meeting. "I'm looking forward to leading a strong, united and focused Opposition that will deliver for all New Zealanders."
Shane Reti, who before politics practiced family medicine and dermatology in Whangārei for 16 years, was selected unopposed as deputy leader after Gerry Brownlee stepped down from the role last week.
"I'm delighted by Dr Shane Reti's appointment," Collins said. "He is a hard-working, intelligent MP with all the skills needed to be an effective leader. His detailed examination and prosecution of the Government's handling of COVID-19 helped improve the response for New Zealanders."
Collins said Dr Reti's knowledge and history working in the health sector will be an asset as Parliament deals with the impact of COVID-19.
"His experience will be invaluable to me as deputy leader and I'm looking forward to working closer with him."
Dr Reti served as MP for Whangārei from 2014 and looked to have secured it again on the preliminary election results. But he lost the seat to Labour's Emily Henderson on the final results announced on Friday.
National's seats in Parliament shrunk from 35 to 33 after the final election results were released. Dr Reti's electorate was among three seats - Whangārei, Maungakiekie and Northland - lost to Labour after the final results.
Because Dr Reti is high on National's party list he made it back into Parliament as a list MP.
The other two National MPs who lost their electorates after the final results - Denise Lee in Maungakiekie and Matt King in Northland - weren't high enough on the party list to get back in.
The National Party caucus also voted on two whips, with Matt Doocey selected as Senior Whip and Maureen Pugh selected as Junior Whip.
"The Whips have an important role to play in helping ensure all our MPs are focused on holding the Government to account," Collins said. "I'm sure Matt and Maureen will do a wonderful job."
Collins described the caucus as "energised" despite the party's election defeat.
"We owe it to the people of New Zealand to provide a strong and effective Opposition as we navigate the difficult economic and health issues ahead of us - and this is exactly what National will do."
