Bridges will not say how National got the information - but was adamant today that it was not hacked from the Treasury's website.
Asked if he might have received stolen information, Bridges said National had acted legally and appropriately.
The Treasury revealed today that 2000 unauthorised attempts had been made to hack its website in the past few days.
But Bridges said that National had acted entirely appropriately and the Government was trying to gag the Opposition and conducting a "witch hunt".
He said that was undemocratic of the Government, and the Opposition had not done anything illegal.
The National Party had never done anything like hacking, Bridges said.
Bridges would not say how National obtained the Budget information that it released yesterday.
He said Finance Minister Grant Robertson was smearing National and went so far as to say Robertson was "lying".
"Grant Robertson has made scurrilous false allegations," Bridges said.
Robertson needed to say what he meant by linking hacking to the National Party.
"That is a smear on the National Party," he said.
"We have acted entirely appropriately. We have done nothing illegal."
"Grant Robertson has been freaking out over this. They are in a frenzy over this... They then decide to lash out. They are going for it... looking for scapegoats, for people to blame.
"The National Party has acted entirely appropriately... and I think Grant Robertson knows that," Bridges said.
"Right at the moment, he's [Robertson] defaming the National Party ... You are lying.
"He is saying right now the National Party has obtained the information as a result of a hack. He has implied [that] quite clearly. He has no basis to say that. It is for him to front up on that."
Bridges added that he did not intend to release any further Budget information today, which is what Robertson asked of him last night.
2000 attempts to hack Treasury website
Treasury Secretary Gabriel Makhlouf has confirmed the Treasury website was hacked, with someone making more than 2000 attempts to access Budget information.
Speaking to Radio New Zealand this morning, Makhlouf said there had been "multiple and persistent attempts to gain unauthorised access to our systems, and specifically Budget-related information".
When he saw the evidence of the hacking he had referred it to the police, he said.
"We take security of Treasury information, especially Budget information, extremely seriously," he said.
"It wasn't an instance of someone stumbling into the room accidentally, it was...someone who tried not once, not twice but in fact over 2000 times...over around 48 hours."
The Politik website has tweeted this morning that "sources familiar with intelligence services" say "the Treasury hack may be separate to the National Party leak and that it may be much bigger and a real security threat. Even suggestions Russia could be involved."
He compared the hack with attempts to break into a locked room.
"Imagine you've got a room in which you've placed important documents that you feel are secure, which you've bolted down, lock and key.
"But unknown to you one of those bolts has a weakness and someone who attacks that bolt, deliberately, persistently, repeatedly, finds that it breaks and they can enter access those papers. That's what's happened here.
"It wasn't an instance of someone stumbling into the room accidentally; it wasn't an instance of someone attacking the bolt and finding that it broke immediately. It wasn't someone who tried not once, not twice but in fact over 2000 times to attack that bolt."
It was not clear whether the hack had come from within New Zealand or outside, but Makhlouf said police would be investigating. The hack started around midnight on Sunday and ended "when we discovered it and closed everything down yesterday".
In a series of press releases yesterday, the National Party revealed what it claimed were details about the Budget.
Following the leak, the Treasury said it had found evidence indicating the information was "deliberately and systematically hacked".
It said it had referred the matter to the police after advice from the National Cyber Security Centre.
Speaking to Newstalk ZB, technology commentator Paul Brislen said the wording from Treasury suggests those behind the leak had "sinister" intentions.
"We talk about a 'deliberate and systematic' hack. This doesn't sound like it's just somebody noodling around," he said.
"[It's] interesting to see them immediately refer it to police. That would suggest there's enough evidence to aid the police in this and get them started down the track of who is responsible."
Last night, Finance Minister Grant Robertson called on the National Party to stop releasing any Budget-related material following the Treasury's claims.
But National leader Simon Bridges fired back and said his party has acted "entirely appropriately".
He said Robertson "falsely smeared [National] to cover up his and the Treasury's incompetence".
"When what has occurred is revealed, he will need to resign."
The hacking of the Treasury website would be a major issue for the Government and Bridges digging his heels in on the eve of the Budget's release would also be hugely problematic.
However, Brislen said when the word hacking is thrown around people often suspect someone behind a computer - but this isn't always the case.
"Hacking's one of those widely misused and misunderstood terms," he said.
"It could be as simple as somebody emailing the contents of a file and that is considered at the lighter end of this activity.
"It could be as detailed as somebody from the outside trying to access systems that they are not allowed to access and finding a way into Treasury's computer systems.
"That's got to be really quite concerning beyond what's going on with this particular hack because if they have found a way in then everybody else is at risk as well."
Brislen added the alleged hacking was "by far" the most severe security breach in terms of the level of intrusion, particularly so close to a budget.
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Comments
As a Systems Administrator for verious companies, our Firewalls reported hundreds of attacks per day. There is nothing unusual about this.
Correlation does not equal causation.
Budget 'leaks' has been a part of NZ politics, for as far back as I can remember.
We didn't realise the industry was so insecure.
Someone hacked the NZ Treasury. It would be wrong to make light of this, out of political allegiance.
Topic leaks in the past, yes. Not comparative detail.
The budget embargo is only observed by the honourable, so no surprise there.
Ha, Bridges accusing someone of a witch hunt. That's the pot calling the kettle black, Mr travel expenses.
Interestingly when Bridges was hellbent on tracking down leaks in his party and during the whole JLR saga and others he didn't , and doesn't, waste time before slandering the Labour party without and proof . However it seems when Labour makes a statement that the information National has was the same information targeted in the hack he claims "He has no basis to say that." and "That is a smear on the National Party,"
However Following the leak, the Treasury said it had found evidence indicating the information was "deliberately and systematically hacked" so it isn't a smear or a witch hunt as the same information National has was the target of the hack and that's all he said . He hasn't said National was behind it , he just said it was the same info . Unlike Bridges who is quick to smear Labour at the drop of a hat ie CGT is a forgone conclusion , National party leaks must be from the Speaker and Labour etc and others.
Apparently Keys Dirty Politics is alive and well under Bridges.
"Asked if he might have received stolen information, Bridges said National had acted legally and appropriately"
Did it do so when they accepted the 'donation'.
Did they do so when they stole Eminem's music.
So when bridges opens his mouth that is when you know he is lying ala "junior staffer".
@nivaman, it was "pretty" legal.