Simon Bridges addresses the media at Parliament after being elected National Party leader today. Photo: GettyNew National Party leader Simon Bridges says he will work to "modernise" the National Party for 2020 but has ruled out a wide-scale reform of its policies, saying it had a strong track record on the economy. Bridges was elected as National leader after two rounds of voting by the party's caucus this morning. Bridges said he would do a reshuffle in the next fortnight – and would not be drawn on who his finance spokesperson would be. Bridges is the first Maori leader of the National Party and Bennett is also Maori.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 27, 2018 02:26 UTC