National Party Finance spokesperson and former Leader, Simon Bridges, has announced he is retiring from politics and will leave Parliament in coming weeks.
He said the decision was completely personal - he has been in politics for 14 years, has three children under 10 and would like to explore “commercial opportunities” and “possibly a media project or two”.
Bridges was Leader of the National Party and Opposition between February 2018 and May 2020, when he was ousted by Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye.
After taking a backseat in the party and writing a book, a rejuvenated and ambitious Bridges in November 2021 had another crack at the leadership. The then-leader Judith Collins was voted out for the way she went about trying to demote him by pulling him up for making a crude comment some years ago.
However, Bridges lost the race to political newbie, Christopher Luxon.
Luxon subsequently gave the Tauranga MP and former Cabinet minister one of the most senior roles - Finance.
Bridges said it wouldn’t be fair for him to hold on to the high-profile portfolio until the 2023 election, only to leave.
Speaking to media about his resignation, a slightly emotional Bridges said there was never a “perfect” time to leave, but now is a good time given National has some “wind in its sails”.
“I am proud to have played a significant role recently in getting National back in the hunt for government in 2023. I have every confidence in National to win the election,” he said.
Both Bridges and Luxon confirmed there wasn’t some sort of scandal underpinning the retirement.
His departure will spark a by-election in Tauranga - a seat NZ First Leader Winston Peters may be eyeing.
Bridges said Tauranga had evolved since Peters held the seat, and believed it would be a blue-red battle.
Luxon will announce the party’s new Finance spokesperson on Wednesday.
Bridges said he would formally hand in his resignation to the Speaker of the House in coming weeks.
“I love the National Party and this year I will have been a proud member for 30 years. For the first time in a while, National is in a good place under Chris Luxon’s leadership with momentum heading into the next election,” Bridges said.
“More important to me than being a politician or a businessman, I’m a partner to Natalie and dad to Emlyn, Harry, and Jemima. This week my oldest two children turn 10 and 8 years old, and I want to be able to give them the best of me.”
Luxon said, “Simon has been an absolute champion for Tauranga, for New Zealanders and for the National Party over his 14-year career in Parliament. He was an excellent local MP, Minister, Leader of the National Party and colleague.
“As a Minister, Simon held portfolios focusing on the economy, infrastructure, transport, broadband and the Government’s finances.
“As Transport Minister, Simon relentlessly pushed for upgrades to core infrastructure to drive productivity and help Kiwis get from A to B faster and safer. New Zealanders have Simon to thank for many of our improved state highways, which will be part of his lasting legacy.
“Recently, Simon has been the Opposition Finance spokesperson, where he has been holding Labour to account for a cost of living crisis that is taking Kiwis backwards.
“Most importantly for me, since I became Leader Simon has been a trusted advisor and confidant. I am going to personally miss his contribution to the National Party caucus."
62 Comments
Just yesterday I commented that we'll see a raft of politicians heading for the emergency exit, given the current situation where successive governments have exhausted all options to "stimulate" our economy (population, monetary and fiscal).
Any further stimulus will aggravate the "cost of living" crisis.
Really? We want to keep Soimon with his "deep" understanding of NZ businesses having spent a full year in his entire career in the private sector?
If you think he has an actual shot in the real world other than joining ex-Nat retirees in the lobbying game, you sir are naive.
Was a handy crown prosecutor/lawyer prior to getting into politics … more than a lot of the others. Was more just a general observation of politicians rather than a comment on the competence of the individual. Happy to be wrong if you have evidence from his pre-politics career. Any specific examples?
I don't see why you have to bring out your label machine and call my comment "classist". Nothing wrong in having the sexiest accents in the world.
I find it hypocritical that Bridges cried his eyes out for being bullied for his accent in Parliament when earlier in the year he was found to be involved in a private conversation with JLR where the 2 of them asserted that "two Chinese would be more valuable than two Indians".
As someone who grew up with family members with speech impediments, making fun of how people talk is a shitty thing to do, and given the length of his career and some of his high profile incidents, there's plenty of other things you could remark on as you have pointed out.
Like I say, it tends to reveal more about people who think it's witty or insightful than the person they're talking about. Being called out on it is not 'bringing out a label machine' unless that's what we're calling 'calling crappy and insulting behaviour for what it is' these days.
What will be very interesting is the identity selected to contest the seat for National as it is highly opportune for them to demonstrate to the electorate that are lifting the calibre of their contenders, well above that of some of the shockers that they have introduced to parliament in the last ten years or more. Mr Bridges is not included as such I hasten to say, but he did fall victim to that element, a rebellious & an unedifying one, when he as leader, was still holding National to an advantage over Labour in the polls, at least. Believe he is being realistic here, he took his chance probably too early, but if the enthusiasm has waned, then better for your electorate, to pass it on.
"You do know I ran an airline..."
Senior Executives Are More Likely To Be Psychopaths
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stephaniesarkis/2019/10/27/senior-executiv…
Plenty of success stories to be had when it comes to cycle lanes. A prickly topic at the moment when discussing where fuel excises are spent.
$6.5m Hutt Road cycleway upgrade (wider, safer) launched by Simon Bridges
Government to spend $330m on 41 new cycleways across the country
Simon Bridges opens the Longburn Shared Pathway in Palmerston North
Well Te Reo Maori is frequently used by our media despite NZ having a sizeable immigrant population. Use of Chinese for effect is perfectly reasonable and similar to use of Latin to prove the writer is educated or colloquial American slang to prove the writer is trendy.
Perhaps, perhaps not. Incumbent governments generally fare poorly in a by elections. If National select a strong candidate, they could could give Labour a bit of a spanking and that will only add to the momentum National are gaining in the polls currently. Can only imagine that PM Adern will be quite cross by now having to divert some of her energy, image and publicity into electioneering in a seat that is not exactly a Labour stronghold. National if they get it right, can get quite some traction here, and make some good mileage too.
Thank you for your service sir, on behalf of the cycling community.
$6.5m Hutt Road cycleway upgrade (wider, safer) launched by Simon Bridges
Government to spend $330m on 41 new cycleways across the country
Simon Bridges opens the Longburn Shared Pathway in Palmerston North
HM I'm surprised your name calling got through. Xing has a valuable alternative view on here and doesn't call names. Do you ever go to TRT news or PressTV to see other propaganda or do you stick to the American version? Russia bad, China bad.
Everyone Bad. Because we said so. America bad. One has to be wary though, if one is too open minded one's brain might fall out. It's called critical thinking.
Well, I'll leave this website for good if my name calling gets removed yet pro-CCP / Russian trolling from the likes of X / Audaxes doesn't.
I consider name calling the far lesser or two evils, to be perfectly honest.
And by the way, I don't see USA as saints at all. But I certainly see them as the lesser of evils.
And I'm proud to be a citizen of the West and it's immense and magnificent culture and demographic traditions (flawed as they are), why should I be ashamed of it?
It may even lead to more subscribers, but may also lead to a drop off in readers. But from what I can see on the herald comments section, money is no barrier to drivel.
In the year or so that I've been a reader of the interest comments - I mean articles - there's been an emergence of a vitriolic tone, perhaps it's just the times we're living in. Unfortunate.
in the best part of a decade(!) I've been reading Interest the comments section fluctuates every couple of years. A few years back we had all the DGM battles (while Bernard was still here?), more recently it's been the anti lockdown "debates" and pro/anti blockchain. But within all that there are some really useful comments and knowledgeable people, so just learn to skip over threads with certain people in,
my vote is to leave the comments open to all (although I did like the idea another poster had about subscribers getting a little badge to showed they've coughed up. it'd be interesting to see if the "better " comments were disproportionately from those prepared to cough up some cash...)
It is the times we are living in and social media has changed the landscape for the worse. There is a big social divide of the haves and have nots and its only getting worse. Also a number of people here feel entitled to more than they have got and it gets pretty nasty.
Another twist in the politics of leadership. It's a shame we don't really have any good political leaders, on both sides of the house, so I'm hoping this is Luxon suggesting that those without a future move on while he & his new team get to select a new breed of Nat. God knows they need it.
Political leaders are like wine - many need time to mature; learn from their mistakes; learn who to trust; etc. NZ loses far too many experienced politicians and retains nonentities. Given about 15 years experience, computer programmer and teachers become better at their job and are valued by their employers. Is politics so easy that you can be competent in a couple of years like brick-layers and Baristas?
Hold on a minute!
Is 'Burning Bridges' doing a runner because of the ongoing SFO High Court case that National, Labour, and the Maori Party and NZF are up on charges for receiving donations in breach of the electoral Act legislation in 2017, and 2020's general elections?
Does he have a bit of stink on him?
MSM have kept that one quiet ay.
We welcome your comments below. If you are not already registered, please register to comment.
Remember we welcome robust, respectful and insightful debate. We don't welcome abusive or defamatory comments and will de-register those repeatedly making such comments. Our current comment policy is here.