UPDATE 11:10AM: Simon Bridges has put his hand up for the National Party leadership in an announcement at Parliament.             

Bridges has paid tribute to Bill English this morning, saying he learnt a lot from him.

He says he is the right person to lead the National Party to victory in 2020.

He says he represents generational change as well as experience. "I'm 41, I have a young family," and he has held a broad range of portfolios.

"Many colleagues have come to me to talk to me about it.", and I feel like that strong support from the caucus.

Bridges, the MP for Tauranga, is considered to be one of the front-runners.

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Judith Collins has already said she wants the leadership, while Rodney MP Mark Mitchell said he is actively considering the leadership, but is yet to formally put his name forward.

Northcote MP Jonathan Coleman, who has put his hand up for the leadership before, said he isn't ruling anything in or out at this stage, while deputy leader Paula Bennett has said she wants to stay deputy, but will not be seeking the leader position.

Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye has ruled herself out for the leader or deputy leader positions.

Selwyn MP Amy Adams, also considered a contender, has yet to say if she is interested in the leadership.

National MP Simon Bridges.

 

Judith Collins was the first National MP to confirm that she will contest the role as the jostling begins to replace Bill English as National leader.

Bennett said she believed her strength was in supporting the leader.

"It is in my role as deputy where I have the most to add. Our new leader will need help from an experienced, loyal deputy and I offer that.

Collins confirmed on Twitter this morning that she will contest the leadership.

"I'm announcing my candidacy for Leader of the NZ National Party. We're going to need strong & decisive leadership if we're going to win in 2020. I'm that person," she said.

Collins said she was the best person to take on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who was a "very, very formidable person".

"We need the strongest Opposition we can have. We certainly have the numbers but numbers don't translate into winning," Collins told Radio New Zealand.

"We are going to have to do better than just having the numbers."

Ardern was a formidable opponent, Collins said. "And we would be very foolish to underestimate her. I don't."

Collins had initially contested the leadership in 2016 but withdrew when it was clear English would win it.

She said she meant business this time.

"I intend to be here for the ballot. I'm not messing around, this is not tiddly winks – it's the toughest game in town.

"I'm not putting my hand up to secure some prize. I'm putting my hand up because I believe I'm the best leader for the National Party at this time."

Asked if she could work with NZ First leader Winston Peters in future, Collins said politics was a form of business and she would work with whomever the voters decided.

"You do what you have to do in politics, or else you're not relevant."

 Jonathan Coleman believes he has the ability to criticise the Government while being positive about the country.

Meanwhile Coleman, arriving at Parliament this morning, said he had the ability to criticise the Government while being positive about the country - a skill mix Bill English has said is important.

Jonathan Coleman believes he has the ability to criticise the Government while being positive about the country.

"I think I have those skills, but actually there are other people in the caucus that have those skills. The most important thing is we get the leadership team that can lead us to victory in 2020," Coleman said.

"That has to be the overriding consideration, rather than people's egos. It's one thing to become the Leader of the Opposition, but it's important we have a National Party Prime Minister in 2020 and we can achieve that."

Coleman, who has put up his hand for the leadership before, said it would be ideal to have a consensus in caucus.

"And that may emerge in the coming weeks, but at the same time, the caucus always has the right to have that vote, and sometimes it's better to have that vote and clear the air rather than go through a cycle of people, as Labour did.

"The country wants us focused on their concerns rather than National's internal battles.

"We're going to spend the next two weeks unfortunately having to focus on ourselves, and then after that we've really got to get behind whoever is the leader and their deputy, and go hard out for victory in 2020."

Asked if he would consider the deputy leadership, he said: "I'm not ruling anything in or out at this stage."

Those considering running to replace English are expected to start showing their hands from today, and are already canvassing colleagues before making up their minds.