Simon Bridges National MP simonbridges.co.nz

It has been five years since National came into office. At the time, a combination of a domestic recession, the Global Financial Crisis and poor government-decision-making meant New Zealand was teetering.

Government spending under Labour had risen by 50 per cent in five years. Families were battling high inflation and mortgage rates of more than 10 per cent. One in five teenagers were leaving school, unable to read and write properly. Forecasts for unemployment were also growing.

A Global Financial Crisis and the devastating Canterbury earthquakes would have knocked back the most robust of economies, and the most resilient of people.

But the Government and New Zealanders have persevered. We have worked together and it's that combination of effort and direction which has got us to the much stronger position we enjoy today.

As the economy grows, we are seeing new jobs being created, and unemployment falling. New Zealand is among the top handful of countries for growth in the developed world.

Inflation is at record lows. So are mortgage interest rates. The Government is on track to meets its goal of being in surplus.

We've made big improvements to the public services families rely on – like healthcare and education. More surgery is happening than ever before; and parents with children at primary school, under our Government, are actually entitled to know how they're going.

It's taken five years to reach this point, and there is so much more to come.

Our clear four-point plan is working.

We're responsibly managing government's finances, because that's our job.

We're building a more competitive and productive economy, because this will provide more opportunities for job-seekers, whether they're just entering the workforce, or gradually moving out of it. It will also provide more security for all of us if there are any more unexpected shocks.

We're delivering better public services, because taxpayers deserve to see results from their taxes.

And we're rebuilding Christchurch, because it needs to be done.

We know things are still tough for lots of people; but five years after we were first elected, the economy is in much better shape, prospects are good, and the future is brighter.