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By Brigitte Morten *
Notice – Simon Bridges was to accomplish two things in his first speech as Leader of the Opposition to Party Faithful at the National Party Conference
Simon Bridges flanked by National MP Nikki Kaye (left) and Nicola Willis.
Photo: RNZ / Jane Patterson
First of all, establishing its brand similar to its predecessors to success – John Key and Bill English – but different enough to attract new votes in 2020. Second, showing that his three months He spent his days attending public meetings across the country – he had used them to listen.
Bridges' decision to use the speech to announce an education policy addressing parents directly reflects both findings.
Party loyalists are reluctant to get away from what they know – after all, the Key English brand made them the biggest party in the last election. However, National's management team is smart enough to know that redoing the same thing is not going to stop against Jacindamania.
The focus on education reflects the National's track record. During their last term, spending on education has increased by more than a third. However, specifically announcing that more money would go to class size shows that the party has gained a new perspective.
It is worth pointing out that the government does not really set the size of classes, it just finances on the basis of a teacher ratio. The directors decide on the number of children in the classroom. This is even more relevant today where modern learning environments mean that children are being taught more and more in larger groups by a team of teachers rather than the traditional model of "learning." one class on the other.
for schools. But it has been advertised in a manner easily appreciated by parents.
The way most parents see the effect of school funding is changing the size of classes. They fear that their child may miss individual attention. That's why National's decision to increase class size in 2012 has received such a backlash.
International research on education shows that smaller classes do not reach a more individualized education – only the quality of teaching – but parents can see and feel when it it's about the experience of their child.
million. Bridges knows it because he is a father of young children. His children have recently entered or are about to enter the school and early childhood system. Unlike his predecessors whose children were older when they were leader of the opposition.
Class size is also exactly the type of policy that meeting participants would have gathered at 70 public meetings attended by Simon Bridges in recent months.
This public meeting strategy was high risk. People no longer turn to public meetings as they did before. It was very possible that Mr. Bridges ended up talking to rows of empty chairs. But he did not do it. According to National, more than 10,000 people attended these meetings, and in some electorates, there were hundreds at each meeting.
Spending time traveling across the country put him out of reach of the press who was eagerly awaiting the fight between the opposition and Winston Peters as interim prime minister. It is no wonder that the media has widely dismissed the value of dating – they were not for them.
The value of the strategy of largely ignoring Mr. Peters in recent weeks will only be visible at elections. However, by demonstrating to his caucus that he will support them in their constituencies and listen to their policy ideas, Mr. Bridges assures that he will always be in the leadership position in the upcoming elections.
Announcing a class-size policy is a classic movement of opposition – it reflects that they listen to the party but leave the exact details – how much and when – later in the election cycle.
For Simon Bridges himself it was an ad perfectly on point – he spoke exactly to who he is as a leader. A family man with the values of the National Party and the desire to do the job to get them elected in 2020.
* Brigitte Morten is senior consultant for Silvereye. Previously, she served as a Ministerial Advisor to the Minister of Education of the government led by the previous government, and a consultant and campaign manager for the Australian Liberal Party.
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