Retiring Tauranga MP Simon Bridges sees the National Party as speaking to a growing Māori middle class.
The party’s first and so far only Māori leader announced yesterday he’s stepping down after 14 years in parliament.
He says Māori span the political spectrum, and while Labour dominates the Māori seats Māori in general seats vote for National at the same or even greater numbers than the rest of the population.
“There are many Māori like me who believe in the National kaupapa, who believe in aspiration and getting ahead and I suppose and emerging Māori middle class that National has, does and will continue to speak into, and which is growing,” Mr Bridges says.
He says becoming a party leader made him much more aware of his Ngāti Maniapoto whakapapa, and helped him understand himself better.
