National hopeful was raised in Bay

Northland National candidate Mark Osborne and his wife Jodi.

The National Party candidate contesting the Northland by-election spent his childhood surfing and fishing along the Hawke's Bay coast.

Mark Osborne, now of Taipa, grew up in Te Awanga and spent his summers running around Clifton Motor Camp.

"I loved the beach and the coastal environment," the father of two told Hawke's Bay Today.

He insists he was a "pretty good" student while at Havelock North High School. He had no political aspirations then and was more focused on finance, later moving north to finish his education.

The Doubtless Bay business owner and asset manager for the Far North District Council was selected to stand for National in the March 28 by-election, caused by Mike Sabin's resignation. He said his priorities, if elected, would be helping to push through reforms of the Resource Management Act.

The Northland seat has been held by National for at least three decades.

It is shaping up to be a close race between Mr Osborne and NZ First leader Winston Peters, who are neck and neck in the polls.

The National Party yesterday promised to upgrade 10 one-way bridges in Northland as part of its campaign.

Mr Osborne and Transport Minister Simon Bridges announced the six-year programme, expected to cost between $32 million and $69 million.

The 10 bridges are all on state highways 10, 11 and 12 and include two bridges near Matakohe, one in Taipa, two on the Waimamaku River and the Kaeo bridge.

The timing of the announcement is likely to raise eyebrows. Mr Peters last week used the bridges as an example of the neglect the region faced under National.

Mr Osborne said he had been campaigning on the bridges since being elected, and described the Kaeo bridge as "a ticking time bomb" after a number of serious crashes.