The new leader of the National Party says he'll be able to keep any dissent within the party under control.

Simon Bridges says the leadership battle was a genuine contest following Bill English's departure, rather than a broken party fighting for control.

He says any one of the five could have led the party.

Bridges told Mike Hosking he takes this as a sign of the strength of National.

"The messages I've received from really all of the caucus since then has one of we're strongly behind you, we're unified."

He says National can't just rely on its past record.

"I can't just be there in 2020 saying 'look at what we've done, that's good enough'. We need to modernise, we need to contextualise what we're talking about and what we're going to do."

He says National's caucus hasn't ignored the party's base by not choosing a more experienced MP as party leader, saying the message he's got from caucus is clear.

"There are saying 'Simon Bridges should be our leader, he's our guy at this time, but we acknowledge and totally understand that the likes of Judith Collins and Steven Joyce with their experience and acumen should be there as well and play strong roles'."

Bridges wants them both to have large roles in the party after the reshuffle.

Joyce says he's looking forward to the role he's asked to do.

He's interested in finance but told Mike it's up to the new leader.

Joyce says having five candidates made the contest more cordial.

"It didn't become an either-or, knock em down, drag it out battle, which has probably meant it's ended up a lot tidier and a lot friendlier than it would have otherwise been."

LISTEN TO SIMON BRIDGES TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE