Replacing former justice and commerce minister Simon Power is the most important decision Prime Minister John Key faces as he considers his next cabinet.
Mr Power stunned his colleagues when he announced he wasn't standing for re-election after being a star performer during National's first term and being tipped as a future leader.
Police and Corrections Minister Judith Collins, tough and competent, is being mentioned.
She was a lawyer before entering Parliament and has handled her portfolios well.
Another possibility is Amy Adams, who chaired the finance and expenditure select committee in the previous parliament and is highly regarded.
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She was a commercial law specialist before entering Parliament and on Saturday she retained the seat of Selwyn with a huge 17,708 majority compared with 11,075 in 2008.
Mr Key also has to find a new defence minister because Wayne Mapp has retired. He held the science and innovation portfolio as well.
Two senior ministers already know they will continue in their roles - Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bill English and Health Minister Tony Ryall.
And it would be surprising if Mr Key moved Attorney-General Chris Finlayson because he also holds the Treaty of Waitangi negotiations portfolio and has succeeded in pushing through major settlements with several others in the pipeline.
Mr Key will also have to consider ministerial roles outside cabinet for his support partners, ACT's John Banks and United Future leader Peter Dunne, who is expected to continue to hold the revenue portfolio.
But Mr Key thinks outside the square and has sprung surprises in the past - such as appointing Steven Joyce to his first cabinet just weeks after Mr Joyce entered Parliament as a list MP.
NZN