Simon Bridges National MP simonbridges.co.nz

Rugby World Cup 2011 well and truly dominates on the national stage at the moment. Like millions of other Kiwis, I'm backing Richie and his team to win us back the Webb Ellis Cup.

Yet while our country is in rugby celebration mode for the next several weeks, a lot of other good things continue to happen at a local level. Last weekend, my wife and I enjoyed attending a dinner to mark Tauranga Central Baptist's 100th Birthday Party – making it the oldest of at least 10 Baptist churches in our region. This church has played a vital role for decades in the establishment of all the other Baptist churches including Otumoetai, Mount Maunganui and Bethlehem. As the son of a retired Baptist preacher, it was a pleasure to attend.

Last Sunday I also enjoyed attending the 8th annual ‘Jazz for Waipuna' concert. As has been the case since this event started, it doesn't get much better than listening to terrific music while helping an exceptionally worthy cause.

This weekend, I am having at least part of one of my legs waxed at Placemakers at the Mount as part of a big fundraising effort for Prostate Cancer. I am also attending the 71st Battle of Britain Parade and Ceremony at the Tauranga RSA and helping at different stages to man a National Party stand at the His and Hers Home and Leisure Show at the TECT Arena. If you are at the show come and say gidday.

Investing in New Zealand's future

National is working hard to build a more competitive economy based on exports and higher savings, helping create sustainable, higher-paying jobs.

We've already taken a number of steps – including getting on top of debt and returning to surplus faster. We've undertaken the largest tax reform in 25 years, invested heavily in productive infrastructure, been responsible economic managers and made the public sector more efficient.

We're also ensuring the $220 billion of assets the government owns on behalf of taxpayers are used as efficiently as possible.

If re-elected in November, we plan to extend the mixed-ownership model to four energy state-owned enterprises and reduce the government's shareholding in Air New Zealand – while keeping a majority stake in all of those companies.

The mixed-ownership model is another step in building a faster-growing economy and reducing our heavy reliance on debt, borrowed from foreigners.

It's a win-win. New Zealanders get to invest in good Kiwi companies and the government gets to free up $5 billion to $7 billion – about three per cent of its assets – over three to five years to buy new assets such as schools, hospitals and ultra-fast broadband, without having to borrow from overseas lenders.

Importantly, the government will keep at least 51 per cent control of these five state-owned companies – the same model used successfully for Air New Zealand and the Port of Tauranga for many years.

To ensure the widest possible spread of shareholders, we intend setting a maximum shareholding cap – likely to be 10 per cent.

There is no doubt about these companies remaining overwhelmingly in New Zealand control. We expect that New Zealanders will own at least 85 to 90 per cent of these companies. That's because the government will keep at least 51 per cent control on behalf of all New Zealanders.

New Zealanders, who will be at the front of the queue for shares, have a strong appetite for shares. Kiwi investors have about $100 billion sitting on the sidelines in term deposits and there are tens of billions of dollars invested by other New Zealand investors from KiwiSaver providers to the NZ Super Fund, ACC, Government Superannuation Fund and iwi.

National's mixed-ownership model gives Kiwis a fantastic opportunity to invest in this country's future, particularly with the shine having come off investment housing and finance companies.

It's a smart policy that will strengthen the New Zealand economy.