Election 2008 - The day Simon Bridges became MP

Election 2008. Simon Bridges, as National Party candidate for Tauranga, photo taken not long before he overtook Winston Peters to take the Tauranga seat. Photo/file

As Simon Bridges prepares for his potential future as leader of the Opposition, we look back to the day he overtook former MP Winston Peters to take the Tauranga seat 10 years ago.

Simon Bridges, the fresh young face of a resurgent National Party, has sent Winston Peters packing in an election avalanche that promises to transform Tauranga and the wider region's fortunes.

"I think a National Government will be very good for Tauranga,'' Mr Bridges told the Bay of Plenty Times soon after he beat the New Zealand First leader Mr Peters by a massive 10,710 votes, in the preliminary results.

The local region went blue with sitting MPs Tony Ryall - who will become Health Minister - and Sandra Goudie easily winning Bay of Plenty and Coromandel, and newcomer Todd McClay headed off Labour's Steve Chadwick in Rotorua. All those electorates cut in to Western Bay, which is now represented by four MPs in government.

As it became clear that the election had delivered a rout for National, hundreds of party faithful at the Tauranga Golf Club clinked their glasses in a toast to Mr Bridges, a 32-year-old lawyer, and his fashion editor wife Natalie. They sang For he's a jolly good fellow.

Months of old-fashioned and dogged electioneering succeeded in turning a virtual unknown into an unstoppable force.

Mr Bridges told his party supporters: "Many months ago we began writing a new chapter in the history of Tauranga. Today we finished it and now we must deliver.''

Promising a fresh start and a new vision for Tauranga, he pledged to shun sideshows and pettiness and instead become an MP that showed humility, courtesy, dignity and respect.
To Tauranga's voters he said: "I will work relentlessly for the faith you have put in me.''

Mr Bridges singled out Mr Peters for special comment, after watching him concede on TV.

"Can I say to Winston Peters - I respect you, and in this campaign I have learned a lot from you while we have jousted ... I wish you well in the future.''

He gave special mention to the hundreds of unpaid supporters who worked tirelessly to get him elected, including some who toiled nearly fulltime for weeks.

He praised outgoing MP Bob Clarkson for putting National back on the map in Tauranga by his "momentous'' win against Mr Peters in 2005.

"Lastly can I thank my God, my family and my lovely wife Natalie. We all know these things are not easy on partners, and I confess I did not truly know how difficult it would be.'' He said that for months Natalie has been the breadwinner, supporter and wife.

"I love you and appreciate all you do for me every minute of the day.''

He said the challenges for the future were large. The global economy was in turmoil and it would need years to put things right in New Zealand.

Afterwards, he told the Bay of Plenty Times that his first priority as an MP would be to work hard as a backbencher in order to prove himself and deliver for Tauranga.

He agreed that Tauranga would not have to fight for everything any longer, and National would ensure that city's infrastructure issues would be dealt with over the medium-term.

New Prime Minister John Key made a good start last week by promising $100 million for an underpass from Welcome Bay to Turret Rd and four-laning the Turret Rd-15th Ave central corridor.