Simon's Tauranga Question Time

Mayor of London Boris Johnson is being credited for Tauranga MP and Transport Minister Simon Bridges' new twice-yearly People's Question Time in Tauranga.

'I was literally walking the underground with my three-year-old son round my neck rushing to catch the London Tube,” says Simon, explaining his eureka moment.


Simon was inspired by Boris Johnson's People's Question Time in London. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

'There before me was a massive poster of Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, advertising the fact he was bringing his People's Question Time to that local area.

'I was like: ‘Brilliant, Eureka! I need to front up and do this every six months in Tauranga'. So I'm doing my first one next week.”

The venue is the Graham Young theatre at Tauranga Boy's College at 7pm on Wednesday, April 15.

There's room for hundreds of people and they can ask him about anything.

'Hopefully, it's related to politics,” says Simon. 'I see it as a really good focal point for the people of Tauranga.

'It's for me to say what I'm doing, then for people to have a go at me!

'But in all seriousness, it's a chance to connect, but I see it as a really good focal point for the people of Tauranga to get in front of their local MP – for me to tell them what I'm up to, give them a sense of what's on my agenda for the city but also for me to be accountable to them.

'Hear what their worries, concerns, and issues are.

Simon says the Question Time should be a two-way street. '[People should] say what they are thinking, give me a sense of the problem, and hopefully some positive stuff as well.”

The public access question time is not that different from what he's already doing, says Simon.

He's got regular clinics with constituents, monthly coffee mornings with seniors, and a range of meetings with all manner of volunteer groups, business groups and so on.

'This new forum won't stop all the other work I do in the community.”

Simon's first public Question Time is this Wednesday, April 15 from 7pm at the Graham Young theatre, Tauranga Boy's College.

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22 comments

What are?

Posted on 13-04-2015 08:35 | By Merlin

what are the names of the 10 bridges Mr bridges.


Yay Simon...

Posted on 13-04-2015 09:00 | By Graham

WOW! Such a life-changing revelation


not really

Posted on 13-04-2015 09:08 | By Captain Sensible

Simon avoids difficult questions like I try to avoid the plague. He is a nodding "yes" man determined to get his MP life pension. He prefers to waffle on about his memories of his childhood having picnics on the beach under a pohutukawa tree than answer political questions.


Simon could answer via Sunlive anytime

Posted on 13-04-2015 09:52 | By Annalist

Here's some questions for Simon. Although I'm mostly a supporter there are some matters I think National needs questioning over. So here goes. Why did the government even consider the idea of handing out corporate welfare to Skycity? Why hasn't the government said a straight out NO to the idea of anyone owning natural water? Why is the government paying for MPs and spouses to swan around Europe on the so-called Speakers Tour? How did Dame Susan get appointed to the highly paid race relations conciliators job? Was it a party political appointment? Full marks to the Nats for their economic management but the above things have me wondering and I'd like some answers.


Zero Hours

Posted on 13-04-2015 13:03 | By Merlin

What a lot of rubbish zero hours contracts established by this Government is.Would Simon like it if he was told you may come to work tomorrow but perhaps not the next day or perhaps next week.How can anyone plan a life like this.That is my question.The policy is and absolute disgrace.Good to MacDonalds have abandon it.It does not do anything for staff retention as people will look for more stable employment


Yeah Right !

Posted on 13-04-2015 14:12 | By Jitter

If anybody manages to get a straight answer out of Noddy Bridges I will be amazed.


Re Yay Simon Comment

Posted on 13-04-2015 16:12 | By Merlin

I watch parliament too and Simon Bridges is pathetic.He has started to yell and scream answers of no substance whatever.Must have learn't this from John Key.


Words are free

Posted on 13-04-2015 17:02 | By nerak

Simon, and the only words/questions you want to hear are those which don


Whatever

Posted on 13-04-2015 17:22 | By timor2011

Have tried to schedule a meeting with mr bridges last year with regards to the wolf reform, but he was too busy. Have been a national supporter in the past, but I'm not sure anymore, they're only in it for themselves. As for question time, that won't last.


I'm betting he will cancel event.

Posted on 13-04-2015 17:30 | By dgk

Simon, answering questions from the public, yeah right!


I Really Wonder

Posted on 13-04-2015 18:52 | By Merlin

I really wonder who is the author of all these policies that are getting so much negative responses.Sale of State houses to community providers and saying the Salvation Army will be a interested provider when they just don't have the resources to maintain or administer.Two things Winston achieved when MP here was getting the harbour bridge classified as a state highway and introducing the gold card for the Elderly.Match that Simon.


roll in winny!!

Posted on 13-04-2015 19:24 | By Me again

You had better be good Mr MP. We may have to ask Winny to come down here for the next elections. Give you lot a bit of hurry-up.


You tube.

Posted on 13-04-2015 20:04 | By Smilarkie

Would love to be there for this but can't make it. Was hoping someone could film it and put it on you tube. Can't wait to have a few beers and watch the best comedy of the year. "Nodding Bridges" love it. This is gona be great.


Re Question Time

Posted on 13-04-2015 21:09 | By Merlin

How will the the questions be allocated in his first Eureka first question time. Will they be vetted to show positive government or will they be taken from the floor and given to known supporters.I would like to know how this is to be run.Perhaps he might get an original idea sometime.


Who's

Posted on 13-04-2015 22:59 | By Capt_Kaveman

the idiot that marked out the lines in Fraser st?? are they mad or just a bad morning after a hang over


2

Posted on 13-04-2015 23:02 | By Capt_Kaveman

all this money spent in the Waikato yet Auck motorway is short a lane each way from Manukau to Bombay


3

Posted on 13-04-2015 23:04 | By Capt_Kaveman

Bridges, how about widening some of the bad ones,? there are so many to do


STILL WAITING

Posted on 14-04-2015 05:39 | By s83cruiser

for an answer from him as to what HE is going to do about the disgusting wages that are paid to the wonderful people in the age care sector. I emailed Noddy 3 years ago with a list of questions on this subject and still waiting...waiting...waiting. Don't get me wrong, I got and answer to my email from one of his minions in the back room which basically blew smoke up my ,you know where, but I never got a reply from the person to whom I addressed the email. TAURANGA needs a politician with a political backbone not a John Keys sycophant. Make me wonder why Tauranga let Winston go in the first place when I see this man on the TV. Tauranga's loss and Northlands eventual gain. Will be interesting to attend one of these scam sessions to listen to the BS rhetoric.


Seems to be....

Posted on 14-04-2015 10:38 | By Paul Melhuish

...universal skepticism over Simon's integrity from all posters on this article. One would have to agree, the cap definitely fits.


You can email him anytime!

Posted on 14-04-2015 12:29 | By Mackka

No need to wait six months for 'Question Time'. He will reply very quickly to anyone who sends him an email - at any time!


Leaky Buildings

Posted on 15-04-2015 08:34 | By Jitter

A small group of us requested a meeting with Bridges some years ago re leaky buildings which was agreed to.All through the meeting he either played with his cell phone or doodled on his desk pad and was completely disinterested and refused to take our well researched recommendations to Parliament.He or his staff have never acknowledged and email or letter I have sent. Tony Ryall was another MP who never replied to emails or letters. These are the only two MPs I have written to over the years who have never acknowledge or replied in full to my queries.


Total Waste of time,

Posted on 06-05-2015 11:49 | By freedom

Must have been trying to appease his conscience due to the fact that he does not see his constituents.


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