At the beginning of 2020 the National Party under Simon Bridges looked set to make history: a series of polls had them on a trajectory to victory in the September election. By the end of May National had dropped seventeen points and Bridges had been replaced in a caucus coup. Simon and Danyl Mclauchlan will discuss what happened, what the role of the opposition leader in a time of national crisis is, and what he thinks of the election campaign and the challenges facing New Zealand politics.

Simon Bridges is a lawyer turned senior National politician and MP for Tauranga, who has held a raft of senior responsibilities in New Zealand politics, including as Leader of the National Party and of the Opposition. Above all that, Simon is husband of Natalie and dad to Emlyn, Harry and Jemima.

As a Minister in the Key/English governments Simon held a wide variety of Ministerial portfolios including Economic Development, Transport, Communications, Energy &; Resources, Labour, Associate Finance and Leader of the House. Prior to Parliament Simon started his career in a national law firm and was then a Crown prosecutor for several years conducting many serious criminal jury trials.

Simon has an LLB (Hons) and BA from Auckland University where he received a Senior Law Prize, and a Bachelor of Civil law from Oxford University (where he met Natalie). In addition, Simon has studied at the London School of Economics and interned at the British House of Commons as part of a Chevening-Hansard Society Fellowship.

At home, Simon enjoys board games and getting out and about with his kids. He also plays the drums (enthusiastically but not so well these days) and likes red wine, podcasts and reading.

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It’s election year and we need to talk. Join Verb Wellington and The Spinoff Members for a rough and ready rummage through key election issues with experts, commentators and the odd politician. With Danyl Mclauchlan and guests, last Wednesday of the month at Meow (9 Edward St) from March to August.