2018 election to determine the 12th leader of the National Party
2018 New Zealand National Party leadership election
2018 New Zealand National Party deputy leadership election
The2018 New Zealand National Party leadership election was held on 27 February 2018 to determine the 12thLeader of theNational Party . On 13 February 2018,Bill English announced his resignation as leader of the National Party, effective on 27 February 2018. He left Parliament on 13 March 2018. On 20 February, Deputy Leader Paula Bennett announced that a concurrent deputy leadership election would take place, in which she would stand.[ 1]
After a secret caucus ballotSimon Bridges was declared the new leader of the National Party andPaula Bennett was re-elected as deputy.[ 2]
TheFifth National Government of New Zealand came to an end after the2017 general election saw the National Party win 44% of the vote andLabour andNew Zealand First form the minoritySixth Labour Government withconfidence and supply from theGreen Party . On 13 February 2018Bill English , the leader of the National Party and Prime Minister from 2016 to 2017, announced his resignation as party leader effective on 27 February, and as a Member of Parliament effective on 13 March.[ 3] [ 4] Paula Bennett asked National seniorwhip Jami-Lee Ross for her role to also be put up for election, but she would run to keep the position.[ 5]
Declared candidates [ edit ] At the time of the election, the following individuals were candidates:
Name Positions Notes Endorsements Amy Adams MP forSelwyn since 2008 Shadow Minister of Justice, Shadow Minister of Workplace Relations Adams announced her candidacy on 14 February 2018.[ 6] National MPs Media personalities Simon Bridges Bridges announced his candidacy on 14 February 2018.[ 10] Judith Collins MP forPapakura since 2002 Shadow Minister of Transport, Shadow Minister of Revenue Collins announced her candidacy on 14 February 2018.[ 13] Former political figures Media personalities Steven Joyce List MP since 2008Shadow Minister of Finance, Shadow Minister of Infrastructure Joyce announced his candidacy on 20 February 2018.[ 24]
Withdrew before vote [ edit ] Name Positions Notes Endorsements Mark Mitchell MP forRodney since 2011 Shadow Minister of Defence Mitchell announced his candidacy on 19 February 2018.[ 25] [ 26] [ 27]
The following individuals were speculated as being possible leadership candidates, but ruled out a bid:
Public opinion polling [ edit ] Date Polling organisation Sample size Amy Adams Paula Bennett Simon Bridges Jonathan Coleman Judith Collins Steven Joyce Nikki Kaye Mark Mitchell Todd Muller Unsure 30 Jan – 14 Feb 2018 UMR Research[ 34] 1,000 8% 11% 8% 4% 12% 10% 12% — 2% 34% Nat. 9% 14% 9% 3% 17% 14% 11% — 1% 19% 19–25 Feb 2018 UMR Research[ 35] 600 13% — 11% — 21% 16% — 7% — 33% ~230Nat. 8% — 11% — 25% 23% — 7% — 26%
The election was conducted as asecret ballot of the National Party parliamentary caucus.[ 36] exhaustive ballot method was used, so that the support of 29 of the 56 MPs were required to elect the leader.[ 37] [ 36] [ 38]
On 6 March Joyce announced his retirement from politics following speculation he would lose the finance portfolio. Joyce wouldn't confirm or deny this but said Bridges offered him a "high-ranking" portfolio.[ 39] [ 40] Jonathan Coleman resigned from Parliament; Adams announced her own upcoming retirement in early 2019.
Bridges held the leadership for two years, before being successfully challenged for the role byTodd Muller .
^ "Paula Bennett and Ron Mark's job on line as Nat's and NZ First mull deputy leadership" .Stuff.co.nz . Retrieved20 February 2018 .^ Bracewell-Worrall, Anna (27 February 2018)."National chooses Simon Bridges" .Newshub the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved27 February 2018 . ^ "Bill English announces retirement from Parliament" (Press release).New Zealand National Party . 13 February 2018. Retrieved13 February 2018 .^ "Resignations — Rt Hon Bill English, National" .Parliamentary Debates Parliament of New Zealand . 22 February 2018. Retrieved5 March 2018 .^ Hickey, Bernard; Cowlishaw, Shane (20 February 2018)."Live: National deputy leadership will also go to vote" .Newsroom . Retrieved5 March 2018 . ^a b c d e "Amy Adams joins National leadership race" .Radio New Zealand ^ Hawkesby, Kate (15 February 2018)."Amy Adams the clear frontrunner over Simon Bridges and Judith Collins for National leadership" .The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved15 February 2018 . ^a b Hawkesby, Kate (20 February 2018)."I'm impressed by Mark Mitchell's leadership credentials" .The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved20 February 2018 . ^ @damianlight (26 February 2018)."FWIW I hope Amy Adams wins the National leadership contest. Of all of them she seems the most progressive and genuine" (Tweet ) – viaTwitter . ^ "Bridges joining Collins in leadership contest" .RNZ National ^ Braunias, Steve (14 February 2018)."Loose goose Simon Bridges obvious pick as satirist-in-chief" .The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved15 February 2018 . ^ Hehir, Liam (15 February 2018)."Bridges best bet for conservatives" .Newsroom . Retrieved15 February 2018 . ^a b c d "Judith Collins announces National leadership bid" .Newshub the original on 13 February 2018.^ Tibshraeny, Jenée (14 February 2018)."Don Brash on why Judith Collins is best placed to take on Jacinda Ardern; Michelle Boag on how the party's leadership change will be 'tidy'; and David Farrar on how National's new leader will create its brand" .interest.co.nz . ^ Williams, Mike (17 February 2018)."Mike Williams: Gongoozling and the race to be Nats' leader" .The New Zealand Herald APN News & Media .^ Hosking, Mike (14 February 2018)."Why Judith Collins should be National's next leader" .The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved15 February 2018 .^a b Hosking, Mike (20 February 2018)."No contest - Steven Joyce should be National's next leader" .The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved20 February 2018 .^ Slater, Cameron (15 February 2018)."Crushin' it" . Whale Oil. Archived fromthe original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved15 February 2018 .^ "Judith Collins heir to National Party throne - Chris Trotter, Trish Sherson" .Newshub MediaWorks New Zealand . 14 February 2018. Archived fromthe original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved15 February 2018 .^ "Duncan Garner: National, want the nuclear option? Pick Judith 'Crusher' Collins" .Stuff.co.nz Fairfax Media Limited . 17 February 2018. Retrieved17 February 2018 .^ "Heather du Plessis-Allan: Judith Collins is the right person for the job, for now at least" .The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved18 February 2018 .^ "Barry Soper: National should unleash its rottweiler - Judith Collins" .The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved19 February 2018 .^ "Judith Collins for National Party leader; the rest can 'zip it, sweetie' .Stuff.co.nz Fairfax Media Limited . 19 February 2018. Retrieved19 February 2018 .^ "National MP Steven Joyce has thrown his hat in the ring" . Stuff.co.nz. 20 February 2018. Retrieved19 February 2018 .^ "Mark Mitchell announces he will contest National Party leadership to replace Bill English" .The New Zealand Herald ^ "Mark Mitchell abandons National leadership bid at last minute" .The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved27 February 2018 .^ Patterson, Jane (27 February 2018)."Reshuffle will show Bridges' commitment to renewal" .Radio New Zealand . Retrieved27 February 2018 . ^a b Lynch, Jenna (13 February 2018)."Who will replace Bill English? The contenders" .Newshub the original on 13 February 2018. ^a b Murphy, Tim (13 February 2018)."So who does National turn to now?" .Newsroom ^ "Jonathan Coleman out of the leadership race" .Newshub the original on 15 February 2018.^ Trevett, Claire (13 February 2018)."Pros and cons: Who will be National's next leader?" .The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved13 February 2018 . ^ "Is Judith Collins the right person to lead National into the next election?" .1News ^ Hudson, Daisy (15 February 2018)."Rotorua MP Todd McClay rules out National leadership challenge" .Rotorua Daily Post ^a b Manhire, Toby (22 February 2018)."Exclusive: Poll gives Judith Collins slim lead as preferred National leader" .The Spinoff . Retrieved22 February 2018 . ^ Manhire, Toby (26 February 2018)."New poll on National leadership gives late boost to outsiders" .The Spinoff . Retrieved26 February 2018 . ^a b "New National leader Simon Bridges: 'A great privilege' .Radio New Zealand . 27 February 2018. Retrieved5 March 2018 .^ Moir, Jo (14 February 2018)."National's ten first-term MPs could decide the next leader" .Stuff.co.nz . Retrieved5 March 2018 . ^ Kirk, Stacey (27 February 2018)."Simon Bridges emerges as next National Party leader, Paula Bennett his deputy" .Stuff.co.nz . Retrieved5 March 2018 . ^ Bracewell-Worrall, Anna; Lynch, Jenna; Ewing, Isobel (6 March 2018)."Steven Joyce resigns from Parliament" .Newshub the original on 6 March 2018. Retrieved6 March 2018 . ^ New Zealand National Party (11 March 2018)."Bridges unveils team to take on Ardern-Peters Govt" . Scoop.co.nz. Retrieved13 March 2018 .
