Close Up - Following the Leader (Jim Bolger)

The man who'll carry the National Party's standard into the next election is the first to admit he has a very non-standard background: son of immigrant Irish stock, father of nine, and staunch Catholic.

– Reporter Brett Dumbleton

There's this old, terrible principle that people articulate, the Peter principle; that you rise to your level of incompetence. Well, I haven't done so yet and I don't intend to in this job.

– Jim Bolger, on leading the National party

He has Holland's down to earth nature, I think he's got some of Muldoon's directness and force, and most important I think he's got Holyoake's intuitive feel for politics.

– Barry Gustafson compares Jim Bolger to previous National Party politicians

If we need a leader because our present one is unavailable or whatever, I would almost certainly be available for the job.

– Jim Bolger