Labour Party leader Phil Goff has retained a centrist flavour for his shadow cabinet but has made strategic appointments which will test some of Prime Minister John Key's new ministers.
He has appointed some of Labour's best performers in the House to roles that will ensure the new Cabinet ministers cannot take anything for granted.
The most prominent match-up will be Labour deputy leader Annette King taking on the social development role for the Opposition, pitting her against new Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett.
Mrs King is an experienced performer in the House and will ensure Ms Bennett, a second-term MP, is kept on task.
Ruth Dyson moves up Labour's seniority list to number four and takes on health.
She will be up against Health Minister Tony Ryall, who was a star performer for National in Opposition and was rewarded by Mr Key with an early announcement of his portfolio.
One of the most interesting match-ups will be Police and Corrections Minister Judith Collins against Labour law and order spokesman (including police and corrections) Clayton Cosgrove.
Both Mrs Collins and Mr Cosgrove are fearsome in the House and will not hold back on the issue both parties campaigned strongly on during the election.
Former Maori affairs minister Parekura Horomia and former customs minister Nanaia Mahuta have been rewarded for holding their electorates against strong challenges from Maori Party candidates and are both included in the front bench.
Mr Goff has also kept an eye on the left of the party by appointing Maryan Street to trade and tertiary education.
Chris Carter retains a role in overall education matters for the Opposition.
It had been announced earlier that David Cunliffe would become finance spokesman and be the third-ranked Labour MP.
While regarded as a social liberal, Mr Cunliffe is likely to follow the lead set by former finance minister Michael Cullen in the way he manages alternative fiscal matters.
However, the philosophical differences between Finance Minister Bill English and Mr Cunliffe will be even more pronounced than they were between Mr English and Dr Cullen.
Dunedin-based list MP David Parker moves up two places to be 11 on the ranking and regains the attorney-general spokesman role he lost when he was in Cabinet.
He will also cover electoral reform, ACC and associate finance.
New Dunedin South MP Clare Curran has been given communications and information technology.
Charles Chauvel, who has been widely tipped to be a force within Labour since he chaired Young Labour in 1987, gets his chance to perform as the spokesman on climate change.
Given that the National-led Government seems to be preparing to change the emissions trading legislation passed under urgency in September, Mr Chauvel will get plenty of opportunities to tackle Climate Change and Environment Minister Nick Smith.
The Opposition does not have long to wait to have its first shot at the Government.
Mr Key announced yesterday that the opening of Parliament was being planned for December 8.
On December 9, would be the speech from the Throne and the start of the address-in-reply debate.
National's intention was to pass its tax legislation before Christmas, he said.
"The tax programme was a central part of the economic plan National campaigned on in the run-up to the election."
National also campaigned on other policies that, in some cases, would require legislation.
More details of the Government's legislation programme for the upcoming session of Parliament would be released soon, Mr Key said.
Mr Goff said his team was ready to get to work immediately.
"We will be a constructive Opposition willing to work with other parties, including those in Government, where it is in the interests of New Zealand to do so.
"We will, however, also perform the role of holding the Government to account. This will be necessary as we have already seen, within days of the election, the National Party backtracking on its election promises such as in the area of the emissions trading scheme," he said.
