▁First ▁founder - le ader ▁W inst on ▁Peters ▁in ▁his ▁elect or ate ▁( P eters ▁remained ▁in ▁Parliament ▁as ▁a ▁list ▁MP ). ▁A part ▁from ▁in ▁A uck land , ▁National ' s ▁support ▁cent red ▁mainly ▁in ▁rural ▁and ▁provincial ▁areas . ▁▁ 2 0 0 6 – 2 0 1 1 ▁ ▁Br ash ▁took ▁leave ▁on ▁ 1 3 ▁September ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁to ▁sort ▁out ▁mar ital ▁troubles . ▁Rum ours ▁of ▁an ▁extr amar ital ▁affair ▁came ▁to ▁the ▁public ' s ▁attention ▁around ▁this ▁date ▁after ▁National ▁MP ▁Brian ▁Con nell ▁alleg edly ▁confront ed ▁Br ash ▁in ▁a ▁c au cus - me eting ▁about ▁the ▁rum ours . ▁Details ▁le aked ▁to ▁the ▁press , ▁and ▁in ▁the ▁weeks ▁that ▁followed ▁the ▁National ▁Party ▁c au cus ▁susp ended ▁Con nell ▁from ▁membership ▁of ▁the ▁c au cus . ▁ ▁On ▁Saturday ▁ 2 3 ▁September , ▁Br ash ▁appeared ▁on ▁Television ▁New ▁Zealand ' s ▁Ag enda ▁news ▁program ▁and ▁acknowled ged ▁that ▁he ▁had ▁met ▁with ▁Ex clus ive ▁Bre th ren ▁represent atives ▁after ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁general ▁election . ▁ ▁Br ash ▁indicated ▁his ▁intention ▁to ▁remain ▁the ▁leader ▁of ▁the ▁National ▁Party ▁and ▁to ▁contest ▁the ▁next ▁election ▁in ▁that ▁role . ▁However , ▁it ▁became ▁increasing ly ▁clear ▁that ▁the ▁c au cus ▁preferred ▁Fin ance ▁Sp okes man ▁John ▁Key , ▁whose ▁rating ▁stead ily ▁rose ▁in ▁" pre