The government of New Zealand's new Prime Minister John Key was sworn in Wednesday after an election victory earlier this month.

Key and 27 ministers, including the 19 from his National Party who will form the cabinet, formally took office at a ceremony at parliament in Wellington. Key was due to hold his first cabinet meeting later Wednesday.

The new prime minister announced his Cabinet line-up on Monday with top priorities on economy.

The National Party's deputy leader Bill English was appointed as deputy prime minister and minister of finance and will pick up the newly created infrastructure portfolio.

Pansy Wong, 53-year-old ethnic Chinese member of parliament (MP), was appointed Minister for Ethnic Affairs and Minister of Women's Affairs, becoming the country's first Asian Cabinet minister.

New Zealand held general elections on Nov. 8. The National party, led by John Key, defeated the Labour party of Helen Clark, who had led a government for nine years.

(Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2008)