Todd’s dream arrives from 'surreal' campaign

Bay of Plenty's new MP Todd Muller has this weekend had one of his childhood dreams come true from the most 'surreal” New Zealand general election campaigns he's ever seen.

The National Party candidate won the Bay of Plenty electorate by a 14,129 vote majority in last night's election, totalling a landslide win of 20,013 votes, with Labour's Claire Wilson registering 5884 and New Zealand First's Raymond Dolman collecting 4180.


Bay of Plenty's new MP Todd Muller celebrates his win last night with supporters.

Speaking to SunLive today, Todd says the campaign has been 'surreal” in some respects.

'I've never seen anything like it and I've been involved at differing levels in nine National Party campaigns – even though I'm only 45 I started very young, I've never seen anything like it.

'I think there has genuinely been a backlash against some of the nonsense we've seen.”

Spending a quiet day with wife Michelle, his two children and parents Mike and Trish at their Te Puna home, Todd says his victory is only just starting to 'sink in”.

'But the overriding emotion for me is humility and sheer privilege in it. As a boy – I've mentioned this before – I went to Te Puna School and at that age I thought and wanted to one day be a politician and hopefully an a MP.

'And for this to come to pass 30 years later is awesome quite frankly and I feel very humbled by the support the National Party has received, and I have received, and over the next three years I'm going to work real, real hard to earn that trust – and pay back that trust.”

Todd, who replaces retiring National MP Tony Ryall, thinks National's overwhelming support this election is from a combination of things.

'I think John Key's leadership has been standout over the last six years through some very, very difficult times – external to the country and within the country as well.

'Even with the Psa-V outbreak here locally; he's always come over as someone with a very assured approach, very pragmatic, focus on the things that work.

'He doesn't come across as particularly ideological – if it works he'll back it – and that's how NZers approach their lives and why he's so popular.

'He's built a team round them that are very competent and approach politics with that same outlook – let's focus on the things that matter and get real outcomes for people – and people respect him for that.

'But it's not just that – on one hand there's been very assured management of the country through tough times – that gave people confidence – and the fact that they [voters] saw through this campaign and approach from others from the other side of the political spectrum that was just appalling.

'And the country reacted accordingly – we just don't want to see that kind of politics in this country.”

Todd says he's aiming to work very hard for the local community and he's sure this will be applied across his new caucus.

'When you are given this much level of confidence in your third term then you need to work even harder to ensure you reward that level of trust.”

Working for Jim Bolger in Parliament 'in a totally different role” in the 1990s, Todd isn't a stranger to the Beehive.

'But of course nothing can prepare you totally for being an MP so it's the sum of all your experiences and I'll bring that to bear – but I will have my mouth shut and my ears open for a decent period of time.”

Todd says he now joins Simon Bridges, Scott Simpson and Todd McClay to meet the increasing demands created by growth in the Bay of Plenty region.

'There's not a single issue and I don't see the BOP community through a single issue; it's whole raft of areas that need to be continually invested in and supported.”

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3 comments

Hang on Todd.

Posted on 21-09-2014 19:15 | By Paul Melhuish

Some of what you are saying is 'appalling' is Nationals own doing and some is still to be sorted out post election. National ain't as squeaky clean as you would want us to believe Todd.


Oh, please

Posted on 22-09-2014 09:29 | By BullShtAlert

Come on, Todd was always going to win this blue ribbon electorate. Todd seems to be a good man and has plenty of talent though.


Difference.....

Posted on 22-09-2014 14:53 | By carpedeum

There is a big difference between " winning" the seat because its National and winning the seat by reaching out and making yourself available to the Voters - listening and taking real notice of their concerns-Todd has been exceptional in the effort he has put in to get in touch with the BOP voting public


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