The two other challengers for the role have conceded defeat, saying English had secured sufficient support from his National Party colleagues to take over leadership of the party and therefore become prime minister.
As the country’s finance minister, English has presided over a number of infrastructure investments, including a growing PPP pipeline that has included the recent signing of New Zealand’s second road PPP scheme.
In 2012, he welcomed the country’s signing of the Wiri Prison PPP scheme – the country’s first PPP deal to sign – as “an important milestone” for the country.
English was also the country's first and only Infrastructure Minister between 2008-11, after whcih the position was abolished.