Nikki Kaye. Pic: NZPA

There are 35 new MPs in Parliament, 15 from National. Among the new intake is National's Nikki Kaye who talks to Maggie Tait of NZPA about her past and what she brings to the new role.

Wellington, Dec 22 NZPA - New National MP for Auckland Central Nikki Kaye is among the younger members of the large new contingent to enter Parliament.

The 28-year-old is slightly defensive about the issue, quickly saying "no" when asked if her age offered any challenges and pointing out Labour MP Jacinda Ardern is younger -- even if it is only by five months.

She thinks her age is irrelevant and was not a barrier in previous roles.

"I don't think it's any different to where ever you would be in life. If you are someone maybe who works hard and possibly does do alright then you are possibly going to be in those situations whatever organisation you are in.

"I don't think it's any different."

Ms Kaye may be young for an MP but has had a successful career before taking long-time electorate MP Judith Tizard's seat by 1497 votes.

Described by her friends as "intense", Ms Kaye is focused about what she does in life. Born and raised in Auckland she was head prefect at Corran School and earned a Bachelor of Science from Otago University majoring in genetics. She is a few credits short of a law degree.

She joined the National Party in 1999 and in the same year was elected president of the Young Nationals after attending an AGM in Dunedin.

"I thought I was meeting an MP (Katherine Rich) but I was the only woman in the room so I was elected. That's how I got involved in politics."

Ms Kaye was doing a law clerkship in Wellington and decided to move here. She took a job as a researcher in opposition in 2002.

"When I worked here I became quite heavily interested in policy. I came in six weeks before the snap election."

Labour called that election blaming the collapse of coalition partner -- The Alliance -- and the parliamentary confusion it was causing.

The small research unit gave Ms Kaye the opportunity to work in diverse areas including welfare, Treaty issues, housing and immigration.

She worked for then leader Bill English and MPs including Ms Rich.

"I've always really respected and admired Katherine, I think she is someone who is being very true to who she is and her principles and she's a woman of incredible integrity. I've always admired Bill in terms of his ability to digest some quite complex things and communicate them in an easy, simple way which I think is a very good skill in politics."

But they are not role models: "I am really my own person. I think I have always been my own person. I do look to people and respect and admire the skill sets they have."

Nicknamed Kikki Naye at university, the MP says she is loyal to her friends, compassionate and open-minded.

"I suppose one thing people do say to me is that I am quite intense at times. I accept that."

In 2003 Ms Kaye told Mr English she was off to do her OE. She wanted to travel but also another factor was "not much career development in a small office in opposition".

Mr English was replaced as leader by Don Brash and Ms Kaye stayed on for a handover period before leaving to do some travel around the United States and heading to London.

There she worked in range of contract roles in public and private sectors.

In local government she had two jobs: one working with minorities in social services and another ensuring vulnerable and disabled people had access to transport.

She also had contracts working at Transport for London and in the Department of Constitutional Affairs as a senior policy advisor in the freedom of information area.

However, in late 2005 she joined the International Young Democratic Union, a centre-right alliance of youth organisations of political parties, and was elected in December 2006 as vice-chairwoman and felt she had to resign from the public service.

Back in the private sector she went to Halifax Bank of Scotland working in information technology.

At the same time she was also busy setting up a business she directs, networkme.com, which has developed software to let people upload their profile and be searchable on the internet. She started working on the concept in 2006 with the first part of the product launched the following year.

The various roles put her in the position of managing people twice her age and dealing with deadlines -- skills she expects will help her as an MP.

"I think that was the interesting thing about the roles I did in London, I was constantly required to come into situations whereby you would have to fit within a team very quickly, you were often there because something has gone wrong or they need something fixed.

"You have to be very respectful of the people who have been there but, get your head around a situation pretty easily, and then be able to come up with a solution which is good from an organisational point of view but also from a people point of view."

Ms Kaye is looking forward to working as a constituency MP and will treat environment issues in the area -- particularly around Hauraki Gulf and seeking better marine protection for Great Barrier -- as a priority after getting strong voter support in those areas.

While not wanted to undermine the Royal Commission that is considering Auckland governance, Ms Kaye feels there is a need for change.

"It's not good enough to have as many organisations that are involved in terms of transport for instance.

"I think many people are moving toward a consensus around having a regional entity, I think the second layer around community representation is key around the detail ... I am very keen to get involved in that."

Having returned from London last year, Ms Kaye lives in an apartment in the CBD.

She is considering moving into a house and repatriating her cat Fieval who has stayed with her mum and step-dad since going overseas.

Ms Kaye has siblings from her lawyer father's three marriages. His second marriage to her mother Julia ended when Ms Kaye was about seven-years-old.

In her maiden speech Ms Kaye said her parents split up had been hard but she felt lucky to have the extended family.

"I am not judgemental about how families should be structured -- if it works it works."

Her mother raised her and her sister Genevieve on her own, working in various roles including accounts and elder care, for about three years while son Matthew stayed with his dad.

"I love my mum to bits, she's always worked really hard and done everything that she possibly could for us. I can't think of a time in my life where she has not been there."

Ms Kaye told Parliament her family had suffered problems and been badly affected by P and she said many families in New Zealand suffered because of the drug.

"I am committed to working hard to get rid of this drug."

In her spare time Ms Kaye likes to participate in multi-sport events and has always been a runner.

She has done the Coast to Coast, a few half marathons, two marathons -- in Christchurch in 1999 and the Anglesey Marathon in Wales a couple of years ago.

"Sometimes it's competition with yourself, it's not about other people -- but to set a goal and work hard but also, as I say, it's quite weird the running thing because part of it is definitely a relaxation thing.

"I just go and kind of switch off."

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