Simon Bridges
National Party leadership
Is Simon Bridges going to be forced to walk the plank? It's not clear if any possible challengers have the numbers to defeat him, though, especially while the party is holding up above the 40 per cent… Audio
Simon Bridges’ constituents on what they think of his leadership
Simon Bridges has survived to fight another day as National party leader, but he's failed to douse speculation that Judith Collins could challenge his leadership. Reporter Nita Blake-Persen asked… Video, Audio
MPs return to Parliament - political analysis
National MPs are back at Parliament after the Easter break, but there are rumblings among the caucus about the current leadership. Simon Bridges told Morning Report he received a clear message from… Audio
'I trust my colleagues' - Simon Bridges
Corrections spent just over $1 million on 193 ice-slushie machines for its staff in prisons to help them combat the heat over summer. National's leader, Simon Bridges, says it's wastefully extravagant… Video, Audio
Slushies for prison guards not a luxury - union
The union representing prison officers says it's rich of the National Party to criticise the use of slushie machines when it introduced giving ice blocks and bottled water to prisoners in hot weather… Audio
Sri Lanka blasts: Simon Bridges urges caution over 'retaliation' claim
National Party leader Simon Bridges says we need to exercise 'real caution' over the claims that the Easter Sunday bombings, which killed more than 300 people, were retaliation for the Christchurch… Audio
Capital gains tax plan abandoned, National claims win
The Prime Minister has abandoned plans for any capital gains tax in a shock move that demonstrates the power of her coalition partner New Zealand First. Jacinda Ardern made the announcement on… Audio
Not known if women heard in National culture review - Simon Bridges
The National Party review into its culture may not have spoken to women from the party who are Members of Parliament, leader Simon Bridges says. Video, Audio
Tax lobby group spends $15,000 publicly backing CGT
New lobby group Tax Justice Aotearoa is defending spending thousands of dollars on advertising to push its message backing a capital gains tax. Audio
Capital gains tax: 500k businesses may be hit - National
The National Party says as many as 570,000 businesses will be caught by a capital gains tax if it goes ahead. It says small businesses make up 97 percent of the business sector but the government is… Video, Audio
Simon Bridges discusses hate crime review
Back now to possible changes to hate crime law in the wake of the Christchurch mosque terror attack. Justice Minister Andrew Little says the laws are inadequate and we need to do better. We heard… Audio
Mosque shootings: National urges Royal Commission of Inquiry
The National Party is calling for the government to hold a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch terrorist attack. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that the inquiry will cover… Video, Audio
Semi-automatic gun ban 'probably right way to go' - Bridges
Three years ago, the Police Association warned members of Parliament the country's gun control rules were so inadequate they could result in a mass killing. A parliamentary select committee… Audio
‘A horrific day for NZ’ - Simon Bridges
"In due course there will be serious questions in a constructive way... it's too soon for that," says National leader Simon Bridges, from his Tauranga home. "This is a horrific day for New Zealand". Audio
Jones has vested interest in PGF-funded centre - National
The National Party is questioning Shane Jones' role in a decision to grant a group $4.6 million from the provincial growth fund - calling it a conflict of interest. Before he returned to Parliament as… Audio
Capital gains tax would hit KiwiSavers hard - Simon Bridges
The leader of the National Party says the proposed Capital Gains Tax would reduce retirement savings for an average earner's KiwiSaver by $64,000 over the course of their working life. Simon Bridges… Video, Audio
Mediawatch Midweek 27 February 2019
Mediawatch's midweek catch-up with Lately. This week Colin talks to Karyn Hay about lame lawsuits targeting US papers, some must-read and must-see local journalism, a politician copping flak for…
Coming up
National leader says floated capital gains tax is a blow
The National Party says there would be nothing fair about a capital gains tax, and that it will hit middle New Zealand, not the wealthy. The party has been warning the proposed tax would be an attack… Audio
Bryce Edwards: Judith Collins 'the big rival to watch'
Political scientist Bryce Edwards says the One News-Colmar Brunton poll shows Judith Collins is the "definite replacement" if Simon Bridges is no longer National's leader. Audio
Simon Bridges tight-lipped on Collins' leadership discussion
Relations between China and New Zealand are under strain and National claims the government has mismanaged the relationship. But the Prime Minister has accused National of playing politics with… Audio