Big Read: On the 2011 campaign trail with Simon Bridges

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges speaks during campaign stop in Cherrywood, Tauranga, in 2011. Photo/file

As Simon Bridges is announced as leader of the Opposition, we look back to his campaign efforts in November 2011 ahead of his second general election. Ellen Irvine captured the moment in time.

It's 10.30am when Simon Bridges arrives at Matua Lifecare to chat with residents, but his day began almost five hours earlier.

Up at 5.40am, Mr Bridges has cleared a stream of emails and been for a run before his first appointment.

He's had a meeting at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and now he's driven across town in his modest, white Hyundai Accent to speak to the residents of the Matua rest home and retirement village.

Having attended Tauranga Boys' College prizegiving the previous night, tonight he will do the same at Otumoetai College.

It's a typical day in the election campaign of Mr Bridges. Dressed immaculately in a blue pinstripe suit and tie and polished black lace-ups, Mr Bridges first has a chat with the facility's general manager, who wants to talk about the future of aged care.

A group of about 40 residents, many in wheelchairs, is waiting for Mr Bridges to make his appearance in a room still adorned with All Blacks flags and deflated black and white balloons.

The residents clap enthusiastically as Mr Bridges enters the room and tells them it's "a great privilege'' to be their MP.

The residents, most who appear to be in their 80s, listen as Mr Bridges talks about "some of the tough things going on in Tauranga''.

On the list: Rena and Psa, and nationally the global financial crisis, Pike River and Christchurch earthquakes.

Mr Bridges runs through National's election policies _ emphasising "strong leadership'' from Prime Minster John Key and himself in Tauranga, and fiscal responsibility.

Mr Bridges highlights what he says are the Government's achievements in Tauranga in the last three years: more roads in Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty, more spending on schools including three new schools in Tauranga, and $52 million more spent on the Bay of Plenty District Health Board.

He says there is less spending on bureaucrats in Wellington, and more on doctors, nurses and teachers in Tauranga.

Mr Bridges talks about law and order. When he says he is speaking as a former Crown prosecutor, a resident pipes up and says "a very good one, too''.

While one man is spied having a sneaky snooze during the speech, others are keen to ask questions.

A lady dressed in a red cardigan is concerned about whether her cataract operation will be subsidised.

And one elderly gentleman puts the heat on Mr Bridges, asking about pay and conditions for staff in facilities such as Matua Lifecare.

But while he has no doubt that the nurses are worth more money, Mr Bridges says he can't make false promises and say their wages will go up overnight.

One of the nursing staff then chimes in with a question about the Government spending more money on the elderly so facilities such as Matua Lifecare could pay their staff more.

"When you went in last time, we were promised extra money,'' she says.

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges talks to residents at Matua Lifecare while on the campaign trail in 2011. Photo/file

And as a nod to the fact that Mr Bridges seems to have all the answers, with a cheeky glint in her eye, an elderly woman asks the question: "Am I going to win Lotto on Saturday night?''

The biggest applause comes when Mr Bridges tells the group that he and his wife, Natalie, are expecting a boy in March.

"If you feel you want to do some knitting for us, blue is the colour,'' he jokes.

With the speech done, Mr Bridges speaks individually with each resident, shaking their hands and giving out his card.

"Thank you for having me,'' he says. ``How long have you been at Matua Lifecare?''

The Bay of Plenty Times Weekend asks one of the residents, aged 86, what she thinks of Mr Bridges.

"I looked at him and thought, God, I could be your grandmother,'' she said.

Mr Bridges has an hour or so to spare before his next engagement _ a business lunch at the Sebel Trinity Wharf _ so decides to do a spot of door knocking.

"It's a very technical system I've got,'' he says, as he checks a battered telephone directory to see if he's covered this street before.

He chooses Heron Ave East in Matua _ a street that seems to be middle Tauranga, with a mixture of houses with manicured gardens, toys on front lawns, and some with empty beer bottles, rubbish bags and cigarette butts by the front door.

He quickly moves off, after removing his tie and patting his pockets to make sure he hasn't locked his keys in the car "because I do that sort of thing''.

He checks his phone _ an hour ago his emails were cleared, but already there are 17.

"By this afternoon it will be 100,'' he says.

He moves swiftly in the late morning sun, wasting no time knocking on the first door.

People not home? A card is tucked in the door with a hand-written note saying "sorry I missed you when I called in, Simon'', which he writes at night while watching the news.

His first strike is a gardener working out front of one of the houses.

"Have you got any issues?'' Mr Bridges asks.

Simon and Natalie Bridges celebrate a victorious campaign in the 2011 general election. Photo/file

The gardener says he "wasn't so keen'' on the anti-smacking bill but apart from that he "wasn't too disappointed'' with the Government.

Moving on to the next house, Mr Bridges says most people are polite when he approaches them.

At one house, he can see through the glass ranchslider a campaign poster of John Key which has been defaced with a black pen.

"That doesn't mean they are not voting for us,'' Mr Bridges says with a smile, faithfully tucking a card in their door.

The next house is a hit _ "I'm still a National [voter], so don't worry,'' says the elderly lady at the door.

Mr Bridges hands her a card, urging her to give him a call if she ever has any concerns or problems.

"No problems. I'm very happy with life, I'm going to be 88,'' she says.

His style is not to push his policies on people _ he introduces himself, gives them the opportunity to tell him about any issues they have, and encourages them to get in touch with him.

"People are adults. Of course you want their support,'' he says.

"It's a chance for me to front up. They can say their piece. Maybe I can persuade them on something. My style is not a real hard sell.''

At the next house we strike, a man introduces himself as Ian and extends a friendly handshake.

"I'm more than happy,'' he says, before Mr Bridges chats with him about his maltese terrier.

"All the best,'' the man says as Mr Bridges moves off.

Some people are not keen to chat but accept the MP's card before politely closing the door.

Mr Bridges catches one lady doing some gardening on her day off.

"Life is not great but life's okay,'' she says.

Door knocking can be hit and miss, but Mr Bridges is a fan of this style of campaigning.

"Every candidate has their own style, but I personally think this works. It's good, grassroots, active campaigning.''

And when he meets people who support him, it gives him a boost.

"It does. It's very humbling. Sometimes it makes me a bit emotional, that people out there believe in you.''

But it doesn't always go Mr Bridges' way.

There's a hostile response from an elderly man who opens the door and immediately makes his feeling clear.

"I've got nothing to do with you since what Piggy Muldoon did to us,'' he says angrily.
With a couple more doors to go, Mr Bridges will have canvassed all 48 homes in the street.

And after a "quick yarn'' about the education system with a concerned resident, he's off to the next engagement, whizzing away with a friendly toot of the horn and a wave.

His day is far from over, with a business lunch, more door knocking, another rest home visit and a school prizegiving on the agenda.
Just another day on the campaign trail.