The race for deputy prime minister is now down to Paula Bennett and Simon Bridges.

So, importantly, who's the biggest Westie?

Bennett says she has the best west Auckland credentials as she lives there – whereas Bridges lives in Tauranga.

"He left you but I am still here," she says.

However Bridges did spend all his formative years out west in Te Atatu, becoming head boy of Rutherford College.

NZME reported today that Bridges was also talking up his west Auckland links.

"I'm originally a westie," Bridges told NZME.

"I also have a very good sense of provincial New Zealand so there's a lot of things that I think I bring to this that are relevant to New Zealanders today."

Bennett moved to Auckland in 1992, first to the North Shore before moving out west.

She now lives in Oratia and was MP for Waitakere from 2008-2014 – clearly visible in her leopard print car.

Currently she's MP for Upper Harbour which includes a good swathe of the west.

But it is the west's tendency to shoot from the hip that really appeals to her. 

"It has been my grounding for the last 12 years in parliament."

West Auckland may be losing Helensville MP John Key at the top but it's set to have one one foot back in the prime minister's office.

- Stuff