Simon Bridges has been arguing for generational change at the top of the National Party, and now he's been given the chance to make it work.

The 41-year-old MP was the youngest candidate in the field when the caucus voted him in as party leader on Tuesday.

Mr Bridges came to parliament in 2008, winning the Tauranga seat with a majority of more than 11,000 votes - and one of the defeated candidates was NZ First's Winston Peters.

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He had to wait a full parliamentary term for a ministerial appointment and from there rose steadily through the ranks.

When National's term in office ended last year, Mr Bridges was minister for economic development, having previously held the transport portfolio.

"We do need to ensure that we've got fresh ideas coming through," he said in his most recent interview.

"But I think what's also true is that they (voters) recognise that we are the best economic managers... it's something we wouldn't want to lose."

He said his first priority as leader would be to continue with "a strong economic direction... everything flows from that".

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Under his leadership there will be changes to the front bench, and they could be significant.

"I've got a very clear sense of a plan if I'm elected leader," he said.

"It will involve a reshuffle, it won't be about throwing out experience and heft, that's obviously important, but it will also be about blending in new talent."

Born in Auckland, he was head boy at Rutherford College and went on to study at Oxford.

Mr Bridges studied law and after a spell with a legal firm become a Crown prosecutor in the District and High Court before entering parliament.

He is part-Maori and the son of a Baptist minister of Ngati Maniapoto descent.