National’s Leadership decision – what you need to know

OPINION: Late Wednesday Night the National Party's now-former-Leader, Judith Collins, went through the process to dismiss Simon Bridges for an already dealt with matter five years ago. This was the beginning of a major downfall for Collins.

On Thursday Morning, a Caucus meeting was held — in Collins' eyes, it was supposed to be very quick. Bridges was meant to be reelected to the level of Todd Muller for the remainder of this parliamentary term. However, the actions made by Collins not following due process was a shock for a lawyer who specialised in employment law. This led to her position as Leader of the National Party being terminated immediately.

Dr Shane Reti, the Deputy, is the acting Party Leader until Tuesday's decision. It will reveal who's got the strongest backing and be the next leader. 

Chistopher Luxon, MP for Botany:
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Luxton is a first term MP, being in Parliament for one year and representing the people of Botany. His former job was CEO Air New Zealand. During his watch, his company issued dividends between 6.5 cent per share right up to 25 cent per share during the 2016 special dividend round.

He was in charge when staff of the airline went on strike in the lead up to Christmas 2018, after Air New Zealand announced its second highest profit for Financial Year 2018. This was when there were pay negotiations surrounding overtime rates, and on offer was a cash incentive of $6,400 to buy out their conditions — employers rejected. 

As of now he holds the view of No Jab, No Benefit, no Working for Families and no Welfare at all. Is against capital punishment, abortion, euthanasia, and cannabis legislation — supports medical cannabis. 

In the house, he voted against the banning of the Gay Conversion Therapy Bill, which all of National did in a block. He's got a private members bill called the Kiwisaver (Forfeiture of proceeds of crime) Amendment Bill, which allows the courts to seize the balance of a convicted criminal's kiwisaver to pay fines and reparations.

Lastly, he was the former spokesperson for Māori Development. 

Simon Bridges, MP for Tauranga:
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Bridges has been an MP since 2008 and was a former crown prosecutor before entering the political spectrum. In the past, he was the leader of the opposition.

He has been in Cabinet before being Minister of Transport with his achievement reverting giveway rule from the unique NZ those turning right go before those turning left into the same road, to those turning left go before those turning right into the same road, in line with the rest of the world.

Was Minister for Energy and Resources, signed oil and gas exploration permits in New Zealand's Victoria Forest Park, and didn’t know he did until Journalist Patrick Gower asked him about it in 2014.

One time on the AM Show, he said he got weekly phone calls from beneficiaries asking for benefit sanctions to remain in place, and that they aren’t given out enough. He apparently had that many contacting him, it was more than the number of fingers and toes combined. How many would also contact him for being unfairly sanctioned, and does that add up to more than his fingers and toes combined?

In the house, he voted against the Gay Marriage Act in 2013, against the Abortion Legislation Act 2020, End of Life Choice Bill 2019 — voted against the banning of Gay Conversion Therapy but in speech advocated a blanket protection to protect the action of all parents in any actions regarding Gay Conversion Therapy.

He has a private members bill, Crime (Offence of Failing to Report Child Harm) Amendment Bill, which would make it a crime to not report child harm. This would likely be to put Professor Snape's Truth Potion into production, to get these confessions, with a warning label ‘do not consume before a media stand up'.  

Mark Mitchell, MP for Whangaparaoa:
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Mitchell has been a MP since 2011, taking over from Lockwood Smith in the seat of Rodney, who was a list only candidate as he was the speaker. Prior to being a MP, he was a Police officer for 13 years, including being a dog handler. After the Police he'd worked with the British Kidnap and Ransom Risk Management Company Control Risks in Iraq and then spent 6 years in Kuwait. 

In 2010 he sold Threat Management Group, which made him a very rich man, according to Wikipedia. He has also been Minister of Defence, Minister of Land Information, and Minister of Statistics, both under John Key and Bill English — twice before stood for leadership. 

In the House, he voted against Gay Marriage, voted for the Abortion Legislation Act 2020, End of Life Choice Bill 2019 and against Banning Gay Conversion Therapy by party vote. Voted for Contraception, Sterilization and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Bill.

He has a private members bill, Protection for First Responders and Prison Officers Bill, taking it over from New Zealand First MP Darroch Ball, plus waiting in the biscuit tin, Corrections (Victim Protection) Amendment Bill. It aims to make the director of corrections and prison managers responsible for prisoners breaching protection orders, forcing them to take steps to prevent contact with their victims. 

Nicola Willis, List MP based in Wellington:
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Nicola has been a MP since 2018 replacing Steven Joyce when he retired from Parliament.

Prior to being a MP she studied English Literature and Journalism, became a policy advisor for Bill English, and then went on to serve as a senior adviser to John Key in 2008.

In 2017, Nicola stood for Wellington Central with a vote of 10,910 and came second to incumbent Grant Robertson. In 2018 she joined Parliament on the retirement of Steven Joyce and during her time, she grilled Greater Wellington Regional Council Chair Chris Laidlaw over poor implementation of Wellington's Bus Network.

She has a private members bill going through the house, The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, to strengthen the accountability and protections of members of the body corps. Another bill in the biscuit tin, The Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Shared Leave) Amendment Bill which allows parents to share their leave and have it simultaneously. 

A letter campaign was distributed within Ōhāriu during 2021 to test the waters whether she could win the Electorate, since she had a drop in electoral votes in 2020 when she stood for Wellington Central. She doesn't want a repeat, figuring she might make Ōhāriu Blue. There may not be much commitment to the demands and expectations that both Greg O’Connor and Peter Dunne have built over their tenure as local MPs.

So while she decides whether to try being a leader of the opposition, she will have to decide whether to be Martha from Wellington Central or Arthur from Ōhāriu. 

Heading up the road on State Highway 2, Chris Bishop:
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Bishop is a third term MP, who drives an electric vehicle and lives in the suburb of Wainuiomata; where former Hutt South MP Trevor Mallard, Current Mayor Campbell Barry and former Mayor Ray Wallace live. Currently is the Covid-19 Response spokesperson for National, and has been an outlier when it comes to a typical national MP.

He supports expansion of public transport in the Hutt region, including extending the Melling Line to Kelson. 

Advocated very thought out private members bill, a first Compensation for Live Organ Donors Bill which would move kidney transplant donors from being lumbered on a sickness benefit for the recovery time to being entitled in the same way as an ACC claim and getting 80% of their income.

In 2017 he won Hutt South and suggested boundary changes. Disgruntled Labour voters who wanted Campbell Barry to win the nomination for Hutt South over Ginny Anderson. In 2020 Hutt South flipped back Red with Ginny Anderson, and Bishop returned to being a List MP.

He's got a history of Voting for both the Abortion Legislation Act 2020 and the End of Life Choice Bill 2019.

It was leaked that he felt disappointed to be forced to vote against the Banning of Gay Conversion Therapy Bill. 

Dr Shane Reti, Deputy Leader:
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Reti took over Phil Heatley for the Seat of Whangarei, and won it with a 13,000 vote majority.

Prior to entering politics, he was a general practitioner in medicine serving the Northland DHB, along with a tenure at Harvard Medical School. He has used his skills to help get people vaccinated through 2021.

In 2020 he became a List MP after losing his seat of Whangarei to Labour MP Emily Henderson. After 2020, he replaced Gerry Brownlee as Deputy Leader.

He made Votes against the Abortion Legislation Act 2020, the End of Life Choice Bill 2019 and the banning of Gay Conversion Therapy. 

Judith Collins, MP for Papakura:
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It wouldn't surprise if Collins stood for leader again. She made it clear she's not leaving and will stand for Papakura in 2023, following in the same footsteps as former prime minister Robert Muldoon.

Caucus elects the new leader and deputy leader for the National Party. Members do not have the ability to vote, nor do their board and affiliated partnering groups.

On Tuesday, we'll get to know a new team that will lead National to the next election… or… until there's another leadership spill. 

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