KEY POINTS:
National Party candidate Simon Bridges believes his youth is a help rather than a hindrance in his quest for the Tauranga seat.
"I think this election's actually about generational change, and what Tauranga is after is a fresh face with a fresh approach," he said yesterday.
"I don't see my age as a disadvantage. If anything, I think it's an advantage."
Mr Bridges, 31, was enjoying his first day on the campaign trail with leader John Key after being selected for Tauranga on Friday night.
Some commentators have identified his youth and inexperience as a weakness against his likely opponent, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.
But Mr Bridges, who has been a party member for 16 years and is giving up a career as a crown prosecutor to get into Parliament, said that with his age came "new ideas and excitement".
Questions have also been raised about National taking a gamble on an inexperienced candidate, but Mr Key said Mr Bridges was intelligent and articulate, and what he lacked in parliamentary experience he made up for in dedication to the party.
"I personally look at it [his age] as a positive in the sense that while he's inexperienced in not being a member of Parliament, I don't think he's inexperienced when it comes to politics.
"He represents the future of New Zealand and that's a future we'd like on our team."
Mr Key acknowledged that work was needed to persuade Tauranga's elderly constituents to vote for Mr Bridges rather than Mr Peters.
"Partly that's the responsibility of the National Party and leadership team of myself and Bill English, that we present policies that connect with older New Zealanders."
Mr Peters was Tauranga MP for 21 years before being narrowly beaten by National's Bob Clarkson at the last election. He is expected to announce another bid for the seat soon.
During his first official day of campaigning, Mr Bridges visited a Relationship Services youth programme for boys before attending an Export Bay of Plenty forum and Tauranga Chamber of Commerce lunch with Mr Key.
Between the forum and lunch, the pair took a short walk around central Tauranga, where Mr Bridges was met with approval by locals he spoke to.
Fiona Dimock, 47, said it was "fantastic" National had chosen a young candidate, and her friend Juliet Cantwell, 45, said "the younger, the better". Both indicated they would vote for Mr Bridges.
Tony Attewell, also in his late 40s, had not made up his mind but after meeting Mr Bridges said he was "swinging that way". He also thought it was good that National had chosen a young candidate for Tauranga "because this is a young, very vibrant city".
Mr Clarkson earlier endorsed Mr Bridges, saying he had "a good brain" and would do well at promoting National's policies.
Mr Clarkson plans to continue his work for the party outside Parliament.
