Mr Bridges discussed local issues affecting Central Otago's rural community at the Alexandra Community Hall this morning, in his sole visit to the Waitaki electorate as part of his "Connecting with Communities" tour.
Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan welcomed Mr Bridges to the town, highlighting issues such as the positives of negatives of growth, house prices being high compared with wages and lack of young opportunities for young people in the district.
Mr Bridges mentioned irrigation and the Roxburgh children's village as two issues the Government had made the wrong decisions on that directly affected Central Otago.
Audience members asked Mr Bridges about their concerns with the increase in minimum wage and how it affected their horticulture businesses, health and safety on orchards, tourist tax and what Mr Bridges called one of the more popular questions on his tour - whether National could make any "friends" to partner with for the next Government.
The Otago Daily Times asked Mr Bridges asked why after the extra $1.5 million given in 2009 for the Roxburgh children's village when it was about to close, nothing else had been given during their time in government.
"Our approach was to allow [funding] to continue," Mr Bridges said.
"We were in times when the budgets were tighter than they are today but we still managed to do it.
"You can always make the case for more money, instead of $1.5 [million] it could have been $3.5 [million] or something but it kept going and now under this Government where they have a $3 billion surplus where they're able to put $1 billion into diplomats overseas, they're not doing it and I can't see why."
The ODT asked Mr Bridges if he stood by the National party's decision not to give the Maniototo Hospital the $1 million needed for the rebuild, which the Labour Government gave earlier this year.
Mr Bridges acknowledged that he knew little about the hospital's situation but said generally, hospitals needed money.
"If you look at our record around New Zealand, we've done a pretty good job. No one ever gets it perfect but in times like this I think there should be money for them."
Mr Bridges will speak in Dunedin this afternoon.
