2018 New Zealand National Party leadership election


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.
After a secret caucus ballot Simon Bridges was declared the new leader of the National Party and Paula Bennett was re-elected as deputy.

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. 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. 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
Adams announced her candidacy on 14 February 2018.;National MPs
  • Maggie Barry
  • Chris Bishop
  • Nikki Kaye
  • Tim Macindoe
;Media personalities
Simon Bridges
Bridges announced his candidacy on 14 February 2018.
  • Steve Braunias, The New Zealand Herald columnist
  • Liam Hehir, columnist and former National activist
    • Judith Collins
    		Collins announced her candidacy on 14 February 2018.;Former political figures
    • Don Brash, former National Party leader and former Governor of the Reserve Bank
    • Mike Williams, former Labour Party president
    ;Media personalities
    • Mike Hosking, broadcaster – retracted on 20 February after Steven Joyce announced his candidacy
    • Cameron Slater, blogger
    • Chris Trotter, commentator
    • Duncan Garner, broadcaster
    • Heather du Plessis-Allan, broadcaster
    • Barry Soper, broadcaster
    • Jane Bowron, broadcaster
    Steven Joyce
    		Joyce announced his candidacy on 20 February 2018.
  • Mike Hosking, broadcaster

    • Withdrew before vote

    Declined

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

    Result

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

    Outcomes

    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. On 11 March Bridges announced his shadow cabinet which saw Adams, Collins and Mitchell receive promotions; ranked 3rd, 4th and 7th respectively. 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.