Simon Bridges

The Honourable

Simon Bridges

MP
37th Leader of the Opposition
In office
27 February 2018 – 22 May 2020
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
Winston Peters (Acting)
DeputyPaula Bennett
Preceded byBill English
Succeeded byTodd Muller
12th Leader of the National Party
In office
27 February 2018 – 22 May 2020
DeputyPaula Bennett
Preceded byBill English
Succeeded byTodd Muller
10th Leader of the House
In office
2 May 2017 – 26 October 2017
Prime MinisterBill English
DeputyMichael Woodhouse
Preceded byGerry Brownlee
Succeeded byChris Hipkins
Minister of Economic Development
In office
20 December 2016 – 26 October 2017
Prime MinisterBill English
Preceded bySteven Joyce
Succeeded byDavid Parker
26th Minister of Transport
In office
6 October 2014 – 26 October 2017
Prime MinisterJohn Key
Bill English
Preceded byGerry Brownlee
Succeeded byPhil Twyford
Minister for Communications
In office
20 December 2016 – 26 October 2017
Prime MinisterBill English
Preceded byAmy Adams
Succeeded byClare Curran (Communications and Digital Media)
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Tauranga
In office
8 December 2008 – 6 May 2022
Preceded byBob Clarkson
Majority11,742 (31.69%)
Personal details
Born
Simon Joseph Bridges

October 1976 (age 48)
Auckland, New Zealand
Political partyNational
Spouse(s)Natalie Bridges
RelationsSimon O'Connor (brother-in-law)
EducationUniversity of Auckland (BA, LLB)
London School of Economics
St Catherine's College, Oxford (BCL)
WebsiteOfficial website

Simon Joseph Bridges (born October 1976) is a New Zealand politician and lawyer. He was the Leader of the New Zealand National Party and Leader of the Opposition from 27 February 2018 to 22 May 2020.[1][2] He was the Member of Parliament for Tauranga from 2008 until 2022.[3]

Bridges has served in several Cabinet portfolios, including Minister of Transport (2014–2017), Minister of Economic Development (2016–2017) and Leader of the House (2017).

He is the first person with Māori ancestry to serve as leader of the National Party, and the first to lead a major party in New Zealand.

On 22 May 2020, following poor polling for the party, Bridges was challenged for the party leadership and replaced by Todd Muller. He would go onto retiring from the leadership of the party less than two months later.[4][5]

On 24 November 2021, Bridges was removed from the shadow cabinet of Judith Collins, because of a rude comment he made to fellow MP Jacqui Dean in 2016. After removing Bridges from her shadow cabinet, a motion of no confidence was passed against Collins and removed her as party leader. Bridges ran to replace her as party leader, but withdrew on the day of the vote and supported the eventual winner Christopher Luxon.

Bridges announced his retirement from politics in March 2022 and resigned as MP two months later in May.[6]

References

[change | change source]
  1. ↑ Bracewell-Worrall, Anna (27 February 2018). "Live updates: National chooses Simon Bridges". Newshub. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  2. ↑ "Simon Bridges confirmed as new National leader, Paula Bennett remains deputy". TVNZ. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.[permanent dead link]
  3. ↑ Edwards, Bryce (15 February 2018). "Political Roundup: Why Simon Bridges is probably National's next leader". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  4. ↑ "Live: Todd Muller beats Simon Bridges in National Party leadership contest". Stuff. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  5. ↑ "National Party leadership: Collins, Kaye, Bridges still in the running". Radio New Zealand. 14 July 2020.
  6. ↑ Swift, Molly (26 March 2022). "The heart-stopping family incident that drove Simon Bridges' shock retirement from politics". Newshub.