Joyce joins race for Nats leadership

Former finance minister Steven Joyce has joined the race for the National Party leadership, bringing the contender count to five.

The race comes after Bill English announced his resignation as party leader and his exit from politics last week.

The following day, Judith Collins, Simon Bridges and Amy Adams announced they’d be vying to replace him.

On Monday, virtual unknown Mark Mitchell joined the race. And, yesterday morning, Joyce said he was running for the position.

Joyce said he had been approached by colleagues, party members and supporters, who told him to put his name forward.

The decision to run was based on his passion for New Zealand, and the country’s future. It wasn’t about personal ambition.

‘‘I’m standing for the leadership because I believe passionately in New Zealand’s future, and I have the skills and experience to successfully lead our proud party and win the contest of ideas with the current Government.’’

When asked to describe his brand, the 54-year-old said, ‘‘I get things done’’, adding he had the experience and skills to lead the party, and the country.

In a similar style to the other contenders, Joyce used his announcement to criticise the Government.

‘‘The 2020 election will be about whether we go forward strongly and confidently as a country or allow Labour and its coalition partners to hobble us with their defensive, backward-looking, 1970s view of the world.’’

Each leadership contender has claimed he or she has the skills it will take to lead National to victory in the 2020 election.

Collins - a well-known but polarising figure - said she would be able to take on Jacinda Ardern.

National’s leader had to be careful not to underestimate the prime minister, Collins said, adding that they had to differentiate themselves from Labour and Ardern.

‘‘I’m standing for the leadership because I believe passionately in New Zealand’s future.’’ Opposition finance spokesman Steven Joyce

Bridges, 41, was running on a platform of ‘‘generational change’’.

Adams played up her ruralurban background, and her appeal to a wide range of Kiwis.

She described herself as economically conservative, but socially liberal.

Meanwhile, Mitchell, a former police officer and hostage negotiator, said he had a proven track record of being a strong leader.

During yesterday’s caucus meeting, National MPs also decided it would vote on the deputy leadership, meaning Paula Bennett’s job was also up for grabs.

Joyce’s announcement comes after the latest 1News/Colmar Brunton poll puts Labour ahead of National.

The poll, released on Monday night, emphasised the importance of the leadership race for National, with National falling to 43 per cent, and Labour rising to 48 per cent – the party’s best result in 15 years.

Joyce entered Parliament in 2008 and has nine years’ experience as a cabinet minister.

His portfolios included finance, economic development, science and innovation, tertiary education, skills and employment, transport and ICT.

He has been the party’s campaign chairman for the past five general elections.

Before entering politics he founded media company Radioworks.

Joyce and his wife, Suzanne, live in Dairy Flat in Auckland, with their two children and a retrodoodle.