Tauranga MP and Transport Minister Simon Bridges says he wants to be Deputy Prime Minister. Simon expects the current Deputy Prime Minister Bill English will take John Key's job on Monday.

He told Stuff.co.nz on Wednesday he has no intention of running for Prime Minister against Judith Collins, Jonathan Coleman and Bill English – who have all put their hat in the ring for the top job.

But he's left the door open for an appointment as Deputy PM, saying he would not 'litigate” the matter in public and would instead speak to his caucus.

Simon says he wants to continue the approach of John Key in encouraging rejuvenation.

'He gave me a chance as a minister and I'm very grateful.”

Simon won't discuss what colleagues are saying to him about his plans, but feel he has 'good and growing support”.

John Key announced his resignation on Monday. Simon's declaration was made at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.

Usually a person who is quick to respond to calls from The Weekend Sun for comment on issues, this week the messages have not been answered.

Whoever emerges as the new National Party leader – and ultimately the new Prime Minster – on Monday, which is when the party's caucus meet to decide, Simon will be an important player partly because his iwi connections may present a foil to Winston Peters.

No one knows which party will receive support from Winston Peters' New Zealand First Party in the lead-up to the General Election next year, one political scientist notes.

The last time Simon and Winston went head-to-head outside the house Simon lost because unlike Winston, he was unable to list the 10 flood-damaged Northland bridges requiring replacement.

Right now Simon is expected to be holding off, keeping his options open and keeping his distance from major candidates. Bill English has the nod from John Key, but Judith Collins is also after the job.

The political scientist doesn't want to be quoted because New Zealand politics is not his specialty.

He believes the job may be won by whoever can convince the National Party Caucus to harness the pent-up anger of the NZ middle class.

While the NZ middle class isn't suffering like that of the United States or Great Britain, their children are no longer able to look forward to good jobs.

House prices are well more than five times the average good salary for most of New Zealand now, and in Auckland it is 10 times the average good salary. And Auckland is where the jobs are.

'If there's a candidate who can fire up the national caucus with arguments that will touch on that, they might go for that.”