New National Party leader Simon Bridges and deputy leader Paula Bennett in February 2018. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Opinion:
So you want to be an MP? I am approached every second week by someone who thinks they want to be an MP. With Simon Bridges announcing his retirement and a by-election looming and me being 18 months out of Parliament, I figured now might be a good time
to lay out a few of the realities.
But first a little on the "shock" announcement of Simon leaving. It's not a shock. In the real world outside of Parliament, 14 years in a job is a long time. It is healthy to have turnover. Simon is 45 years old and has always wanted another career outside of Parliament.
He is incredibly bright, has one of the strongest work ethics of anyone I have ever met, is thoughtful, considered and ambitious. He has given selflessly to public service, often at the sacrifice of family time, and now is his time to embark on a new adventure. We were workmates when we came together as leader and deputy leader of the National Party. We ended that time - and continue to be - friends by choice. He dealt with more criticism and judgment than any leader I have worked with and he got up every day in whatever role he had, parked his feelings and got on with the job at hand to the best of his ability and with a resilience I deeply admire. Go forth, Simon, and give it heaps.
So, you want to stand for Parliament? You will never have a job like it. It is truly humbling to represent the interests of people. From the downtrodden, to the frustrated, to the heartbroken, to the nutty opinionated constituents, it is a privilege to advocate, listen and represent them all. The role of a minister is something else. The workload is huge. You make decisions that will shape everyday New Zealanders' lives. You see the best and worst of people and society as a whole. You have a plan and are part of something big, it consumes you and is exhilarating. You don't watch the news – you are the news. Now that's the good part.