Two Labour appointments

The Herald reports:

Labour leader Andrew Little has confirmed two senior appointments ahead of next year’s election campaign.

Mike Jaspers will be chief press secretary, filling a position that has been vacant since Sarah Stuart left in May after little more than a year in the role.

Jaspers works in communications for New Zealand Rugby including when New Zealand hosted the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

He has experience in Parliament – previously working as a press secretary for Sir Michael Cullen in 2006/07, and before that in Parliament’s press gallery for TVNZ.

It’s understood Little previously tried to hire Jaspers after he became Labour leader.

Congrats to Mike Jaspers on becoming the seventh Chief Press Secretary for Labour in eight years.

Jaspers is well regarded is a good pick. But so were some of those who came before him.

Little has also announced that Neale Jones will become chief of staff. Jones currently works in Little’s office as political director.

Jones used to work for Little at the EPMU, so not a huge surprise in this appointment.

Jones is the sixth Chief of Staff for Labour in eight years.