The Honourable
Nicole McKee
MP
McKee in 2023
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for ACT party list
Assumed office
17 October 2020
Personal details
Born1971 or 1972 (age 51–52)[1]
Political partyACT
SpouseDuncan McKee[2]
Children4

Nicole Raima McKee[3] (born 1971 or 1972) is a New Zealand politician. She has been a Member of Parliament for ACT New Zealand since the 2020 general election.

Early life and career

McKee was born in Lower Hutt. She moved to Rotorua in her teens, then returned to Wellington as an adult. McKee became pregnant when she was 24, but her partner died in a car crash a week before their daughter was born.[1]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2020–2023 53rd List 3 ACT
2023–present 54th List 3 ACT

Mckee was a strong critic of the Sixth Labour Government's gun laws, passed following the Christchurch mosque shootings of 15 March 2019.[4] The new restrictions on gun ownership and game animal management are the issues which propelled her to enter politics.[5] She met David Seymour, ACT's leader, through their opposition to those gun laws, and joined the ACT Party in June 2020.[1]

McKee ran for the electorate of Rongotai at the 2020 general election and was also ranked third on the ACT Party list. While she did not win the electorate, McKee was elected through the party list since ACT won 7.6% of the vote, entitling it to ten seats in Parliament.[6][7][8] In her first term, she was ACT's spokesperson for firearms law reform, conservation, justice and veterans.[9]

McKee contested Rongotai unsuccessfully for a second time at the 2023 general election, coming fourth place.[10] She was re-elected to Parliament for a second term as a list MP.[11]

Following the formation of the National-led coalition government, McKee became Minister for Courts and Associate Minister of Justice (Firearms) in late November 2023.[12]

Personal life

McKee lives in Hataitai, Wellington. She is married, and she and her husband Duncan have four children.[1] She enjoys hunting and wool spinning.[5] McKee is Māori and her iwi is Ngāpuhi.[13][14]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wade, Amelia (5 August 2020). "Election 2020: Party of 6? Meet the Act team who could soon become MPs". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  2. ^ Duff, Michelle (13 December 2011). "Builder gets degree, 39 years on". Stuff.
  3. ^ "Event – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz.
  4. ^ "ACT Party candidate Nicole McKee wants 'commonsense and practicalities' brought back into Government". Newshub. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b Doyle, Katie (1 August 2020). "Top five contenders who could join ACT leader David Seymour in Parliament". Radio NZ. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Rongotai – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  7. ^ "2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  8. ^ "2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result – Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Nicole McKee". ACT New Zealand. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Rongotai - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  11. ^ "2023 General Election - Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Cabinet lineup for new government unveiled - who gets what?". Radio New Zealand. 24 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  13. ^ Perich, Bronson (6 July 2020). "NZ firearms laws don't make the country safe – Nicole McKee". Māori Television. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  14. ^ "McKee, Nicole; Salesa, Jenny – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
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