Todd Muller elected Leader of the NZ National Party
Wellington: Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller has rolled Simon Bridges, taking over as National Party leader after staging a coup.
Mr Muller’s victory came after an emergency caucus meeting yesterday, where MPs were brought back to Wellington to make the vote.
The National Party website crashed during the meeting. Nikki Kaye has been elected Deputy Leader, replacing Paula Bennett. In a statement released shortly after, Mr Muller wrote: “There is no Team Todd, there is no Team Nikki, or anyone else – there is only Team National.” “National has always been a coalition of city and country, business and community, conservatives and liberals – National is the party for all New Zealanders. New Zealanders need a National Government with the experience and management skills to get our country through the worst crisis since the end of the Second World War.
“My focus as leader is our country’s economic recovery and the strengthening of every community throughout New Zealand.”