16 Facts About Rima Nakhle

Rima Jillian Nakhle is a New Zealand National Party politician and a member of parliament for the Takanini electorate in the House of Representatives.

Rima Nakhle attended Western Sydney University and completed a law degree.

Rima Nakhle moved to New Zealand in 2012, after marrying her husband Roger Nakhle.

Rima Nakhle's parents are of Lebanese descent, and lived in the suburb of The Gardens, which is part of the Takanini electorate.

In 2014, Rima Nakhle was admitted to the bar in New Zealand.

Rima Nakhle was the executive manager of Te Mahia Community Village, a transitional and emergency housing service converted from a former camping ground owned by her husband's family.

The camping ground was reportedly a centre of homeless activity prior to its formal conversion; when Rima Nakhle moved to New Zealand, she applied for permission to officially convert it to a "community village".

Rima Nakhle stated in 2020 that Ministry of Social Development considered Te Mahia "the poster boy for community villages".

Rima Nakhle established Te Mahia Community Village Trust, which provided sport, education and social activities for up to 300 village members.

In June 2020, Rima Nakhle was selected over sitting list MP Agnes Loheni as the National Party candidate for the newly established Takanini electorate.

Rima Nakhle estimated in October 2020 that she had door-knocked 3,000 houses since that June.

Rima Nakhle was re-selected as National's Takanini candidate for the 2023 New Zealand general election, held on 14 October 2023.

Rima Nakhle defeated the incumbent Leavasa by a margin of 8,775 votes.

Rima Nakhle is deputy chair of the Maori affairs committee and a member of the justice committee.

In both 2020 and 2023, Rima Nakhle campaigned on a 'tough on crime' approach, saying National would set up military academies for youth offenders.

Rima Nakhle said she voted against legalising euthanasia and cannabis in the 2020 referendums.