34 Facts About Nikki Kaye

Nicola Laura Kaye was a New Zealand politician who served as Deputy Leader of the New Zealand National Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 22 May 2020 to 14 July 2020.

Nikki Kaye served as the member of the New Zealand Parliament for the Auckland Central electorate from 2008 until 2020.

Nikki Kaye was a Cabinet minister in the Fifth National Government, holding the portfolios of civil defence and youth from 2013.

In September 2016, Nikki Kaye took sick leave from the House of Representatives for breast cancer treatment and returned to Parliament in early 2017 to resume full duties.

Nikki Kaye left politics at the 2020 general election and died of breast cancer in November 2024.

Nikki Kaye was born in Auckland and grew up in the surrounding suburbs of Epsom and Kohimarama.

Nikki Kaye's family includes a brother and sister, "two half-brothers, four half-sisters, one stepbrother and two step-parents".

Nikki Kaye was educated at Victoria Avenue Primary School, Remuera Intermediate School, and Corran School, before earning a science degree in genetics from the University of Otago, where she began her Bachelor of Laws.

In 2008 Nikki Kaye competed in the Coast to Coast multi-sport event.

In February 2013, Nikki Kaye completed the Coast to Coast race a second time, becoming the first New Zealand Cabinet minister to do so.

In 1997, Nikki Kaye participated in a television documentary called Fish out of Water, in which she and five other teenagers were marooned on Rakitu Island and fended for themselves for eight days.

Nikki Kaye joined the National Party in 1998, becoming women's vice-chair of the southern region of the New Zealand Young Nationals.

Nikki Kaye began working for Bill English in the office of the Leader of the Opposition in 2002 as a policy researcher.

Nikki Kaye returned to New Zealand in late 2007 to contest the National Party candidacy for the Auckland Central electorate.

Nikki Kaye worked full-time as the National Party candidate from the time of her selection.

Nikki Kaye campaigned on improving public transport infrastructure, improving marine protection around Great Barrier Island, and taking a greater interest in small businesses in Auckland.

At the general election on 8 November 2008, Nikki Kaye was elected as National's MP for Auckland Central, defeating incumbent Labour MP Judith Tizard.

Nikki Kaye had noted during her maiden speech in parliament that "Our environment is the greatest gift we have been given as a nation", and that economical considerations, especially of the short term, should not trump this.

Nikki Kaye was a supporter of reinstating trams for Auckland, and called for a feasibility study into extending the new Wynyard Loop.

Nikki Kaye holds up former National MP Katherine Rich as one of her role models.

Nikki Kaye was elected the deputy chair of the government administration committee in February 2011.

In May 2011, Nikki Kaye appeared in an episode of the TVNZ series Make the Politician Work.

The episode featured Nikki Kaye working a shift on a rubbish collection route and highlighted her campaign for waste minimisation in Auckland.

At the 2011 election, Nikki Kaye stood again in Auckland Central in a high-profile race to retain the seat.

Nikki Kaye was challenged for the seat by Labour list MP Jacinda Ardern and Green candidate Denise Roche, and was placed at position 33 on the National Party list.

Nikki Kaye was instrumental in bringing a gay pride event back to Auckland, where there is a significant LGBT community in her electorate.

On 29 August 2012, Nikki Kaye delivered a speech at Parliament in favour of Louisa Wall's Marriage Amendment Act 2013, which she voted for through all stages.

On 22 January 2013, Nikki Kaye was appointed by Prime Minister John Key to the Cabinet of New Zealand and was appointed Minister for Food Safety, Minister of Civil Defence and Minister of Youth Affairs, along with being made the Associate Minister of Education and Associate Minister of Immigration.

Nikki Kaye returned to Parliament in early 2017 to resume full duties and was promoted to Minister of Education in May 2017.

Nikki Kaye retained the Auckland Central seat in the 2017 election, but National was not returned to government, after failing to form a coalition with NZ First.

The media reported days ahead of the vote that Nikki Kaye was understood to be Muller's running mate and was seeking to become the party's deputy leader, but she refused to confirm if she would stand, with news articles referring to her as the "presumed" candidate even hours before the vote.

On 2 July 2020, Nikki Kaye assumed the Women's portfolio within Todd Muller's shadow cabinet after former Deputy Leader Paula Bennett announced that she would not be contesting the 2020 general election.

Nikki Kaye announced that she was leaving politics two days later, with her resignation taking effect at the October 2020 general election.

Nikki Kaye died of breast cancer on 23 November 2024, at the age of 44.