2018 New Zealand National Party leadership election explained

Election Name:2018 New Zealand National Party leadership election
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2016 New Zealand National Party leadership election
Previous Year:2016
Election Date:27 February 2018
Next Election:May 2020 New Zealand National Party leadership election
Next Year:May 2020
Votes For Election:56 members of the parliamentary caucus
Needed Votes:29
1Blank:1st Rd.
2Blank:2nd Rd.
Candidate1:Simon Bridges
Colour1:00529F
1Data1:Qualified to 2nd Rd.
2Data1:≥29
Candidate2:Amy Adams
Colour2:00529F
1Data2:Qualified to 2nd Rd.
2Data2:<29
Candidate4:Judith Collins
Colour4:00529F
1Data4:Eliminated
Candidate5:Steven Joyce
Colour5:00529F
1Data5:Eliminated
Leader
Before Election:Bill English
Posttitle:Leader after election
After Election:Simon Bridges
Election Name:2018 New Zealand National Party deputy leadership election
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2016 New Zealand National Party leadership election
Previous Year:2016
Election Date:27 February 2018
Next Election:May 2020 New Zealand National Party leadership election
Next Year:May 2020
Votes For Election:56 members of the parliamentary caucus
Needed Votes:29
1Blank:1st Rd.
Candidate1:Paula Bennett
Colour1:00529F
1Data1:≥29
Candidate2:Judith Collins
Colour2:00529F
1Data2:≤29
Deputy Leader
Before Election:Paula Bennett
Posttitle:Deputy Leader after election
After Election:Paula Bennett

The 2018 New Zealand National Party leadership election was held on 27 February 2018 to determine the 12th Leader of the National 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 ballot Simon Bridges was declared the new leader of the National Party and Paula Bennett was re-elected as deputy.[2]

Background

The Fifth National Government of New Zealand came to an end after the 2017 general election saw the National Party win 44% of the vote and Labour and New Zealand First form the minority Sixth Labour Government with confidence and supply from the Green Party. On 13 February 2018 Bill 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] Deputy leader Paula Bennett asked National senior whip Jami-Lee Ross for her role to also be put up for election, but she would run to keep the position.[5] No other candidate declared an intention to run for the deputy leadership before 27 February.

Candidates

Declared candidates

At the time of the election, the following individuals were candidates:

NamePositionsNotesEndorsements

Amy Adams
  • MP for Selwyn 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.[9]

Judith Collins
  • MP for Papakura since 2002
  • Shadow Minister of Transport, Shadow Minister of Revenue
Collins announced her candidacy on 14 February 2018.[12]
Former political figures
Media personalities

Steven Joyce
  • List MP since 2008
  • Shadow Minister of Finance, Shadow Minister of Infrastructure
Joyce announced his candidacy on 20 February 2018.[22]

Declined

The following individuals were speculated as being possible leadership candidates, but ruled out a bid:

Public opinion polling

DatePolling organisationSample sizeAmy AdamsPaula BennettSimon BridgesJonathan ColemanJudith CollinsSteven JoyceNikki KayeMark MitchellTodd MullerUnsure
30 Jan – 14 Feb 2018UMR Research[34] 1,0008%11%8%4%12%10%12%—2%34%
9%14%9%3%17%14%11%—1%19%
19–25 Feb 2018UMR Research[35] 60013%11%21%16%7%33%
~230 8%11%25%23%7%26%

Result

The election was conducted as a secret ballot of the National Party parliamentary caucus.[36] An exhaustive ballot method was used, so that the support of 29 of the 56 MPs were required to elect the leader.[37] Bridges was elected party leader after two rounds of voting.[36] Bennett and Collins ran for the deputy leadership, and Bennett was re-elected to the position.[38]

Outcomes

See also: Shadow Cabinet of Simon Bridges. 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] On 11 March Bridges announced his shadow cabinet which saw Adams, Collins and Mitchell receive promotions; ranked 3rd, 4th and 7th respectively.[40] Two weeks later, former leadership contender 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 by Todd Muller.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Paula Bennett and Ron Mark's job on line as Nat's and NZ First mull deputy leadership. 20 February 2018. Stuff.co.nz. 20 February 2018.
  2. News: National chooses Simon Bridges . Anna . Bracewell-Worrall . . 27 February 2018 . 27 February 2018.
  3. Bill English announces retirement from Parliament. 13 February 2018. New Zealand National Party. 13 February 2018.
  4. Web site: Resignations — Rt Hon Bill English, National . . . 22 February 2018 . 5 March 2018.
  5. News: Live: National deputy leadership will also go to vote . Bernard . Hickey . Shane . Cowlishaw . . 20 February 2018 . 5 March 2018.
  6. Web site: Amy Adams joins National leadership race . . 14 February 2018.
  7. News: Amy Adams the clear frontrunner over Simon Bridges and Judith Collins for National leadership . Kate . Hawkesby . . 15 February 2018 . 15 February 2018.
  8. damianlight . 968246455549837312 . 26 February 2018 . FWIW I hope Amy Adams wins the National leadership contest. Of all of them she seems the most progressive and genuine. .
  9. Web site: Bridges joining Collins in leadership contest . . 14 February 2018.
  10. News: Loose goose Simon Bridges obvious pick as satirist-in-chief . Steve . Braunias. . 14 February 2018 . 15 February 2018.
  11. News: Bridges best bet for conservatives . Liam . Hehir . . 15 February 2018 . 15 February 2018.
  12. Web site: Judith Collins announces National leadership bid . . 14 February 2018.
  13. News: 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 . Jenée. Tibshraeny. interest.co.nz. 14 February 2018.
  14. News: Mike Williams: Gongoozling and the race to be Nats' leader. Mike. Williams. Mike Williams (New Zealand politician). 17 February 2018. The New Zealand Herald. APN News & Media.
  15. News: Why Judith Collins should be National's next leader . Mike . Hosking . Mike Hosking . . 14 February 2018 . 15 February 2018.
  16. News: Crushin' it . Cameron . Slater . Cameron Slater . Whale Oil . 15 February 2018 . 15 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180214231108/https://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2018/02/crushin-it/ . 14 February 2018 . dead .
  17. News: Judith Collins heir to National Party throne - Chris Trotter, Trish Sherson . . . 14 February 2018 . 15 February 2018.
  18. News: Duncan Garner: National, want the nuclear option? Pick Judith 'Crusher' Collins. . . 17 February 2018 . 17 February 2018.
  19. News: Heather du Plessis-Allan: Judith Collins is the right person for the job, for now at least. . NZME . 18 February 2018 . 18 February 2018.
  20. News: Barry Soper: National should unleash its rottweiler - Judith Collins. . NZME . 19 February 2018 . 19 February 2018.
  21. News: Judith Collins for National Party leader; the rest can 'zip it, sweetie'. . . 19 February 2018 . 19 February 2018.
  22. Web site: National MP Steven Joyce has thrown his hat in the ring. 19 February 2018. 20 February 2018. Stuff.co.nz.
  23. News: No contest - Steven Joyce should be National's next leader . Mike . Hosking . Mike Hosking . . 20 February 2018 . 20 February 2018.
  24. Web site: Mark Mitchell announces he will contest National Party leadership to replace Bill English . . 19 February 2018.
  25. News: Mark Mitchell abandons National leadership bid at last minute . The New Zealand Herald . 27 February 2018 . 27 February 2018.
  26. News: Reshuffle will show Bridges' commitment to renewal . Jane . Patterson . Radio New Zealand . 27 February 2018 . 27 February 2018.
  27. News: I'm impressed by Mark Mitchell's leadership credentials . Kate . Hawkesby . . 20 February 2018 . 20 February 2018.
  28. Web site: Who will replace Bill English? The contenders . . Jenna . Lynch . 13 February 2018.
  29. Web site: So who does National turn to now? . . Tim . Murphy . 13 February 2018.
  30. Web site: Jonathan Coleman out of the leadership race . . 15 February 2018.
  31. Web site: Pros and cons: Who will be National's next leader? . Claire . Trevett . . 13 February 2018 . 13 February 2018.
  32. Web site: Is Judith Collins the right person to lead National into the next election? . . 14 February 2018.
  33. Web site: Rotorua MP Todd McClay rules out National leadership challenge . Hudson, Daisy . . 15 February 2018.
  34. News: Exclusive: Poll gives Judith Collins slim lead as preferred National leader . Toby . Manhire . . 22 February 2018 . 22 February 2018.
  35. News: New poll on National leadership gives late boost to outsiders . Toby . Manhire . The Spinoff . 26 February 2018 . 26 February 2018.
  36. News: New National leader Simon Bridges: 'A great privilege' . . 27 February 2018 . 5 March 2018.
  37. News: National's ten first-term MPs could decide the next leader . Jo . Moir . 14 February 2018 . . 5 March 2018.
  38. News: Simon Bridges emerges as next National Party leader, Paula Bennett his deputy . Stacey . Kirk . 27 February 2018 . . 5 March 2018.
  39. News: Bracewell-Worrall. Anna. Lynch. Jenna. Ewing. Isobel. Steven Joyce resigns from Parliament. 6 March 2018. Newshub. 6 March 2018.
  40. Web site: Bridges unveils team to take on Ardern-Peters Govt. New Zealand National Party. Scoop.co.nz. 11 March 2018. 13 March 2018.

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