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Industry potential excites Minister Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges is enjoying tackling the challenge of his new portfolio. Jo Bailey talks to the politician whose political star is definitely on the rise.
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inister of Energy and Resources Simon Bridges says he is a “questioning cheerleader” of the mining industry. “I’m bullish about promoting the mining sector both here and internationally and believe the resources area of my portfolio is where the government can add significant value. “The growth of this sector could lead to the creation of real jobs for New Zealanders, instead of them being trained up and released to other parts of the world.” However Bridges says he will also continue to remind the industry that the highest health and safety, and environmental standards cannot be compromised alongside its growth. “I make no apology for this. If we’re going to protect our reputation globally and expand our social license among New Zealanders, this is the way it has to be.” Bridges took over the Energy and Resources portfolio in January when he also became the Minister of Labour. “They are both chunky portfolios with some strong synergies and very significant agendas that impact on the mining sector. “As well as lifting the profile and potential of the sector under the Energy and Resources portfolio, there is a strong focus within the Labour portfolio on building on the health and safety reform programme that has arisen out of the Pike River tragedy.” Bridges believes that the recent Crown Minerals Act review has “knocked the regime into good shape”. “No law is perfect and you can never say you’ve entirely finished with regulatory reform. “However I’m conscious as a National politician to ensure our rhetoric matches our reality. “We pride ourselves in New Zealand as being one of the easiest places in the world to do business and need to ensure this is also the reality by streamlining the permitting regime where appropriate.” He says the review of the Act has resulted in two significant outcomes. “The first is the move away from simply managing our resources to promoting them and realising their potential, which is part of the government’s current growth agenda. The other is to lift the practice requirements of the industry, providing better coordination of health and safety and environmental oversight.” Bridges, aged 36, has made a quick rise through the National Party ranks from bank bencher to fully fledged Cabinet Minister. The former District and High Court Crown Prosecutor entered Parliament in 2008 after ousting Winston Peters from the Tauranga seat with a majority of more than 11,000 votes. He served as a select committee chair
The growth of this sector could lead to the creation of real jobs for New Zealanders, instead of them being trained up and released to other parts of the world.” Simon Bridges before being made a Minister outside Cabinet for Consumer Affairs in 2012 with the associate portfolios of Climate Change Issues and Transport. The cabinet reshuffle in January this year saw Bridge’s star continue to rise when he was given his current two high-profile portfolios. “I’ve been fortunate to progress to this position so quickly. When I first considered entering politics I had to weigh up the pros and cons of leaving law to potentially end up on the back benches without as much say or voice as I would like.” Bridges has no family background in politics but was interested in it from a young age, becoming a member of the Young Nationals at 16 and elected as the organisation’s Deputy New Zealand Chair in 1997. “I always liked a debate or argument so tended to gravitate to those sorts of things. I signed up to the National Party without any prompting and proceeded to try and form a Te Atatu Young Nationals branch, which I suppose was a bit unusual for a young guy from West Auckland.” Bridges completed a BA in political science and history and an LLB (Hons) at the University of Auckland then worked as a litigation lawyer for Auckland firm Kensington Swan before shifting to Tauranga in 2001 to take up a position as a Crown prosecutor. He later took leave to travel to the United Kingdom where he studied at the London School of Economics; completed a postgraduate law degree at St Catherine’s College, Oxford; and worked as an intern at the British House of Commons. He was working back in Tauranga when the opportunity came to stand for National at the 2008 election. “At the time it was a difficult decision and a big
risk as I was standing against Winston Peter who was foreign minister. “A lot of things could have gone wrong but with a bit of luck and fate, and putting into practice what I had learned through both successful and failed Young Nat campaigns, I became the MP.” After five years in the job he says being in parliament has been better than he imagined. “I am actually less cynical now than when I entered politics. I think you’re lucky in life if you find out what motivates you and gets you going. I feel fortunate I’ve been able to turn my hobby into my occupation.”
Bridges commutes between Wellington and Tauranga, where he lives with wife Natalie and their 16- month-old son. As far as the mining sector goes, he says he is in a “privileged position” to be able to meet with lots of businesses and investors and is excited at the amount of investment being attracted to the industry. “We have a very strong tradition of mining in this country that goes back to the start of colonial times. The industry has always been a strong contributor to the economy and I believe it has a very significant future ahead of it.”
Up close: Simon Bridges, second from left, visits Newmont Waihi’s underground operations.
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