National elects to senior ‘whip’ role

National has elected second-termMP Chris Penk to the senior whip role, while keeping Maureen Pugh in the junior whip role. Whips essentially act as party disciplinarians in Parliament; they make sure MPs are in the House to speak and vote when needed and they also allocate leave. National’s former senior whipwasMatt Doocey, who rose into the front bench in newleader Christopher Luxon’s reshuffle. Whips do not typically serve on the front bench. Luxon said the pair were elected unopposed. ‘‘Chris and Maureen bring the integrity, experience and commitment to make a fantastic whips team, and I look forward to seeing them flourish in their new roles,’’ Luxon said. Whips often serve on the board as a caucus representative alongside the leader. Penk, a former navy officer, lost the defence portfolio in the reshuffle. He was elected in whatwas then the seat of Helensville in 2017, replacing former prime minister John Key in the electorate.