Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has made a series of changes to his cabinet for the new year.

Melissa Lee has been demoted from his ministerial team, taking her economic development and ethnic communities portfolios off her.

Lee’s economic development portfolio had morphed into economic growth, which has been given to Finance Minister Nicola Willis.

“[Willis'] focus will be on leading the Government’s growth agenda to unleash the potential of our businesses to grow, develop talent and attract investment,” Luxon said.

Nicola Willis says signs of economic recovery are already starting to show.

"Our plan is about more than simply getting through the recent economic downturn."