Debating Simon Bridges' 'Māoriness' hurts MāoriTe Kāea After two ballot rounds, Ngati Maniapoto's Simon Bridges was elected as leader of the National Party and Tainui's Paula Bennett was elected as deputy. OPINION: Is it a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't, for Simon Bridges? He's the first Māori leader of the National Party, and that is no small thing. KEVIN STENT/STUFF Newly elected National Party leader Simon Bridges and deputy Paula Bennett front the media. Both of Māori heritage, but both brought up in a fairly typical Kiwi European way.

Source: Stuff March 03, 2018 16:01 UTC