Former Labour Party leader and justice minister Andrew Little has been named as New Zealand's next Minister for Health in the Ardern government's new cabinet.

Infectious diseases specialist Ayesha Verrall has been fast-tracked into an associate ministerial position with a focus on public health, with Peeni Henare keeping his position as associate minister for Maori health.

Chris Hipkins, who took over the health portfolio from the gaffe-prone David Clark in July, retains his main position as education minister but has also been given a new portfolio overseeing the Covid-19 response.