I thought he already was Deputy Leader!

NZ First announced:

The New Zealand First Caucus is proud to announce the unanimous election of Shane Jones as the Party’s Deputy Leader. …

Throughout this term Shane has already been seen, and reported on, as the ‘de facto Deputy Leader’.  This is due to the standing he has within caucus and the leadership he has shown not only in his portfolios but within the wider membership.

I, like everyone, thought he was the Deputy Leader. I have described him as such. But it seems he wasn’t. That in fact there hasn’t been a Deputy Leader for the last five years!