Annette King, Phil Twyford and David Clark have been promoted to Labour's frontbench in a party reshuffle unveiled today.

Shane Jones will remain on the front bench pending the Auditor-General's report into the Bill Liu case.

Among the big losers were Trevor Mallard who was bumped off the front bench.

Labour leader David Shearer unveiled his new line-up this morning.

He said it was a mix of "new talent and experienced hands".

King returns to the front bench after some time in the middle benches following her demotion as deputy leader.

She will take up the health portfolio.

Dunedin North MP David Clark has flown up the ranks and will take on the economic development portfolio.

Chris Hipkins will take on education, Andrew Little justice and Phil Twyford housing.

Leadership contender David Cunliffe and Christchurch East MP Lianne Dalziel have been bumped from the top 20-ranked Labour MPs.

Shearer said Clark was a "rising star" with the economic grunt needed for his new portfolio.

He will work alongside David Parker who retains the finance portfolio.

King was passionate and formidable, Shearer said.

Twyford was "one of our top performers".

Wigram MP Megan Woods will pick up tertiary education and Sue Moroney has returned to the top 20.

Those outside the top 20 MPs are not ranked.

Iain Lees-Galloway and Kris Faafoi have also picked up new portfolios although they remain on the backbenches.

Shearer said Shane Jones would remain on the front bench until the Auditor-General's report was released.

"He is a talented politicians with an important contribution to make," he said.

Without Parekura Horomia or Lianne Dalziel on the frontbench neither Maori affairs nor the Christchurch rebuild portfolios are represented by those at the top of the party.

Shearer said Horomia could do his job from his position outside the top 20 and the whole frontbench would work on Christchurch issues.

Deputy leader Grant Robertson remains in the number two spot and picks up responsibility for jobs.

- © Fairfax NZ News