New Zealand Opposition Leader Simon Bridges brings on caucus spill

Kiwi Opposition Leader Simon Bridges has brought forward a challenge to his position and will stare down his caucus on Friday.

‘We need to resolve this quickly’: Simon Bridges. Picture: Getty Images

New Zealand’s Opposition Leader, Simon Bridges, has brought forward a challenge from would-be leader Todd Muller and will stare down his caucus on Friday, hopeful of retaining his job to the September 19 election.

Mr Bridges has faced pressure to retain his job since the release of a poll on Monday showing his National party had 31 per cent support. That’s down 13 percentage points from both the last poll and the party’s 2017 election result, when National finished eight points above Jacinda Ardern’s Labour but was unable to form a coalition.

While the Prime Minister has been credited with an adept and pitch-perfect response to the coronavirus crisis, Mr Bridges has drifted from political relevance. Murmurings of discontent have been evident for some time, with senior MPs declaring 35 per cent would be a pass mark for their embattled leader.

The 31-point result brought dissatisfaction to the surface, but it was Mr Bridges on Wednesday who confirmed the leadership challenge.

“The biggest issue in New Zealand right now is our economic future,” he said. “But at the moment there’s a focus on leadership in National. A couple of my colleagues want to challenge myself and Paula Bennett for the leadership and deputy leadership.

“We need to resolve this quickly so we can get back to ­focusing on what matters.”

Local media has named the challenging contenders as Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye, although the pair has been silent.

On Wednesday afternoon, Mr Muller outed himself as the contender in an email to all 55 National MPs laying the basis for his leadership.

Mr Muller, 51, was a staffer to former prime minister Jim Bolger; he has a low national profile but has been endorsed by his former boss. The Bay of Plenty MP spent more than a decade in agri-business before entering parliament in 2014.

Running on his ticket as deputy is Nikki Kaye, the more liberal Auckland Central MP, best known for twice beating Ms Ardern to that seat.

The challenge was to be heard on Tuesday, when MPs were expected back in Wellington for a parliamentary sitting week.

AAP