Former NZ National leader Bridges resigns

The 45-year-old announced on Tuesday he will leave parliament in the coming weeks for "commercial opportunities" and to spend time with his family, sparking a by-election in Tauranga.

"It's been a privilege to be MP for Tauranga since 2008, a senior minister and leader of the opposition. I've enjoyed every minute of it, but it's time," he said.

The timing of his departure is curious.

Mr Bridges published his memoirs last year before returning to the senior role of finance spokesman, and last week, National overtook Jacinda Ardern's Labour party in a TV poll for the first time in two years.

Still, Mr Bridges insisted it was the right time in his career to leave for other opportunities "including a media project or two and enjoying life" with his wife and children, aged 10, eight and five.

"At 45, I feel like it's their time as well," he said.

"My reasons that I give you are the reasons that are real."

Mr Bridges won the race to succeed Bill English as National leader following their party's loss of government in 2017.

Under his leadership, the party lead in most opinion polls until the arrival of COVID-19 in early 2020, when he was ousted in an Australian-style leadership coup for Todd Muller.

Mr Muller lasted less than two months in the job before resigning due to mental health issues. Judith Collins then led the party to a thumping loss in the 2020 election.

The bell tolled for Ms Collins in November, pitting Mr Bridges against former Air New Zealand chief executive Chris Luxon in a battle for the leadership.

Mr Luxon won out, avoiding a ballot after meeting with Mr Bridges and then offering him the finance portfolio.

Since that point, National have roared back in the polls, leading Labour in a TVNZ poll last week.

"I'm leaving National at a good time ... it's never perfect but National has momentum as we saw in the poll," he said.

"I believe Chris Luxon will make a great prime minister and I'll be backing them all the way."

Australian Associated Press