Tauranga MP Simon Bridges is ready to sit around the Beehive table and make the key decisions for New Zealand's future.
Simon was promoted from outside Cabinet by Prime Minister John Key yesterday as part of a reshuffle and will now be the Minister of Labour and Minister of Energy and Resources. He remains the Minister of Climate Change.
The MP was appointed Consumer Affairs Minister, Associate Minister of Transport and Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues in April 2012, and was a member of the Education and Select Science committee.
Simon says it has been an amazing year, becoming a father in March and a Minster in April. He is excited to take on the additional responsibilities and bring some new thinking and enthusiasm to the roles.
'It's a great privilege to become a Cabinet Minister.
'Professionally the Cabinet is centre of New Zealand government. It's literally where the most important decisions for our country are made. It's an amazing privilege to be able to sit around that table each week.”
In promoting Simon, the Prime Minister said the MP is ready to step up and take on some more responsibility, something Simon says is very rewarding.
'I really appreciate his kind words. He called me this morning and said the same thing congratulating me on my promotion. I'm really appreciative of the new responsibilities and I'm just looking forward to living up to them.”
The promotion means a few changes to the ministerial role including moving into the Beehive from an office in the parliamentary complex and spending more time away from his family, but he is ready to further his political career.
When asked by SunLive what he predicts for Tauranga this year, Simon says the challenge is to build more businesses and continue to improve the economic profile of the city.
'Tauranga had a challenging year in 2012, but I'm very optimistic for our city. I think we have got so much going for us. The people, the clean landscapes, and really good industries.”
Prior to becoming an MP, Simon moved to Tauranga in 2001 from Auckland to take up a position as a Crown Prosecutor in the District and High Courts.
Following incumbent National MP Bob Clarkson stepping down from the Tauranga seat in 2008, Simon successfully gained candidacy with 11,742 votes, ahead of 10 other candidates including New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, and was eventually listed as number 51 on the National party list.
He was re-elected in 2011, winning his seat with the fifth highest majority support in New Zealand.
The Cabinet reshuffle has also seen MP's Phil Heatley (Housing) and Kate Wilkinson (Conservation) axed from cabinet to the backbench to make way for new minster Nikki Kaye and a re-appointed Nick Smith following his resignation in light of the Bronwyn Pullar ACC sandal.
Kate, the National MP for Waimakariri, says naturally she is disappointed by the news, but she supports the Prime Minister in his choice of a new Cabinet.
'It has been an honour and a privilege to have served as a Minister in the National-led government and I am proud of my contribution to Cabinet over the past four years.”
Kate says she will now focus on putting all her energy into continuing to serve the people of Waimakariri as their local MP.
'Waimakariri has some significant challenges, particularly following the earthquakes, and I am committed to doing what I can to help steer the electorate through these challenging times.”
14 comments
avoid the issues
Posted on 23-01-2013 11:06 | By The Big Tomatosaurus
Straight from the Simon Bridges MP manual; Agree with John Key but don't actually say anything. Never say anything on a controversial subject. Always smile for the camera. Get those three years in and live on the public trough for the rest of my life. PS I am not a Labour voter, just a concerned voter not happy with our MPs avoidance of questions.
TVNZ Coverage
Posted on 23-01-2013 11:37 | By jackb
Am I right? TVNZ in its 6 o'clock news last night covered all the controversial and the irrelevant aspects of the cabinet changes - and made absolutely NO mention of Simon Bridges' deserved appointments?
Very Deserving!!!
Posted on 23-01-2013 12:46 | By adyhutch
What a well deserving role given to someone who has served the community he represents well....but wait...actually what has he done for this town? Bugger all that I can see. Bring back Winston; at least he got things done for us!
Not worth a mention....
Posted on 23-01-2013 13:23 | By WSTAKL
Such a shame this guy doesn't support gay marriage and is a fence sitter on any slightly controversial issue.
Watchdog
Posted on 23-01-2013 13:30 | By Watchdog
Yes Jackb you are right. I noticed that as well.
The Media
Posted on 23-01-2013 14:40 | By carpedeum
Yes jackb - I noticed that too -however have you not cottoned on yet- if its not negative stuff the tv and most of the written media just ignore. I keep waiting for someone to point out that it was the Labour Prty that initiated the change to Novopay for the teachers. ANOTHER huge stuff up on their part that this Govenrment has to correct ( taking lots of unfair biased stick on the way)
nodder
Posted on 23-01-2013 16:45 | By Captain Sensible
Just shows that constant nodding in agreement and saying almost nothing of interest can be rewarding. What has he done to "serve the community"?? Remember he is paid over $100K so he should be doing something.
@carpendum
Posted on 23-01-2013 17:19 | By Sambo
am right with you, further fuel to the "where has all the superannuation gone"saga, and Helen was made out to be so smart.!!!, it is going to be a battle to keep this place going, and as soon as the bludgers realise that the free lunch is over, they may see some rewards in Health Care and Education, so congratulations Simon, and try to make a difference.
Posted on 23-01-2013 17:28 | By charob
have to agree with Jackb and adyhutch. Hope this promotion dont go to his head.
@WSTAKL
Posted on 23-01-2013 17:51 | By Sambo
I do not support "gay marriage" either, do you have a problem with that??.
Just another
Posted on 23-01-2013 18:58 | By AratakiJive
Token youngster to attract the 18+ yr voters. All smiles and absolutely NO substance. Exactly what young voters want.
Posted on 23-01-2013 19:29 | By Tony
Hes doing a bloody good job , Do you want some one eyed old fart representing the Asylum. Wake up and give the young fella a go eh
.
Posted on 24-01-2013 08:56 | By Locals
Is the NZ Govt the only employer in NZ that appoints people to Executive/Management positions responsible for millions of dollars and hundreds/thousands of lives, while having no past experience or track record whatsoever? If anything sums up the flawed culture and visionless direction of this Administration it is this Cabinet reshuffle. It is painfully transparent in its emphasis on Party marketing/branding rather than innovation and substance in its decision making and policy development. This appointment will turn many local National Party members/voters including myself to seek more substance and local initiative from our sitting member of parliament.
Way off the mark
Posted on 26-01-2013 17:59 | By penguin
The Media Posted on 23-01-2013 14:40 | By carpedeum Well, Carpendium, you have missed the point about the Novopay stuff-ups, beautifully (in the same manner that the government won't accept responsibility for many things that have gone wrong during their tenure so far). While Novopay may have been planned by Labour, it is National and their inept ministers who signed the deal off, despite having advice from its own people that there were deep flaws in the system. It is misleading to blame someone else for errors of judgement that are not of their making. Time to get real. Even the PM acknowledges that there have been huge issues with the system? How many facts do you really know and understand? It's a bit like one company designing a boat in good faith but another signing it off despite that fact that it was known to be unseaworthy.
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