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New National leader's first crucial tasks

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Tue, 27 Feb 2018, 5:20AM
​​

New National leader's first crucial tasks

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Tue, 27 Feb 2018, 5:20AM

Simon Bridges says he's aiming to surprise in his new role as National's leader, while Paula Bennett has retained the deputy's role.

The pair emerged from today's caucus vote with wide grins after securing the leadership in a vote held behind closed doors.

Bridges said it was an "enormous privilege" to replace Bill English.

READ MORE:
Bridges given 
the chance to make his mark
Former MP: National must present united front after vote

Political editor Barry Soper says he's a good performer in the house but has an accent that grates.

"He's got youth on his side, 41, I guess that squares off against Jacinda Ardern.

"He's a good performer in the House. He's got an accent that grates with many people. He's certainly got a good brain on him, he was a former police prosecutor."

Paula Bennett is remaining as deputy leader, which Soper says is a surprise.

"Many in the party saw Paula Bennett as the Achilles heel in the National Party."

It wasn't immediately known whether she was challenged and voting details weren't released.

Bridges said it was an "enormous privilege" to replace Bill English.

"My focus as leader will be ensuring we build on those policies to improve the lives of New Zealanders," he said.

Bridges becomes the first Maori leader of the National Party, along with Bennett, who also has Maori heritage, political commentator Bryce Edwards noted.

Mr Bridges said his job would be to hold the government to account.

"The government is big on lofty intentions but struggling to turn that into real gains for New Zealanders."

READ MORE:
Don Brash backs Judith Collins as National leader
Kate Hawkesby: Why I'm backing Amy Adams

 

The first challenge for Bridges will be to unify the caucus after the intense two-weeks leadership contest.

That will be done partly through a re-allocation of roles in a reshuffle, which can be expected as early s this week.

All leadership contenders can expect to have prominent roles in the new lineup.

The biggest issue will be who gets finance, held for the past year by Steven Joyce.

Bridges will be straight into their work - appearing in Parliament at 2pm today to lead National's questions to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Performance in the House is not considered the most important part of the leader's role but it is crucial to maintaining morale in the party.

National Party president Peter Goodfellow has congratulated Bridges on his appointment.

"Simon will be a fierce opponent for the Coalition Government, and I would expect nothing less," he wrote in an email.

"I am proud to be the president of a strong and united party. Together with Simon and our whole National team, we will continue to hold this government to account until the next general election, and earn the right to re-take the government benches."

After 27 years in Parliament, Bill English will deliver his valedictory address on Thursday.

English took over the leadership for a second time, after the sudden resignation in late 2016 of successful Prime Minister John Key who won three consecutive elections.

National was the highest polling party at the 2017 election – 44.4 per cent compared to Labour's 36.9 per cent – but failed to get a fourth term because New Zealand First elected to form a coalition with Labour.

There were five contenders for the leadership.

There were five contenders for the leadership.

Who is Simon Bridges?

• Politics: MP for Tauranga, first elected in 2008 replacing National MP Bob Clarkson. Former Minister of Economic Development, Transport, Energy, Labour, Communications and former Leader of the House. Joined Young Nationals aged 16. Stood for deputy leader in 2016 against Paula Bennett.

• Work: Previously Crown prosecutor in Tauranga.

• Family: Raised in Te Atatu, West Auckland, the youngest of six children. Father was a Baptist minister, mother was a primary school teacher. Ngati Maniopoto. Met his wife, Natalie, at Oxford University. Three children, two boys and a daughter who was born in December.

• Education: Former head boy at Rutherford High, where former Labour minister Chris Carter was one of his teachers. BA and LLB (Hons) from Auckland University, Bachelor of Civil Law from Oxford University.

• Voting: Voted against same sex marriage but says now the law is working well and would not change it. Voted against first reading of euthanasia bill.

End of an era

Today's outcome spells the end of the John Key and Bill English era – an era of unprecedented high popularity for National, including three terms in power from 2008-2017.

Bill English arrived at Parliament earlier today - for his last few hours in the job - keeping tight-lipped about the process to replace him.

He plans to pack up his office, go to a temporary office and be out of Parliament by the end of the week.

He would not make a prediction or say who he was voting for. But he said the new leader needed to be "patient".

Caucus had handled the process of selecting a new leader well, English said.

"They have been civil, they have been respectful, they have gone about it competently and that is a great start for a new leader."

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