Nikki Kaye

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Nikki Kaye

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Nikki Kaye 2017.jpg

| alt = Headshot of Nikki Kaye, a white, middle-aged woman with blonde hair

| caption = Kaye in 2017

| order1 = Deputy Leader of the Opposition

| term_start1 = 22 May 2020

| term_end1 = 14 July 2020

| leader1 = Todd Muller

| predecessor1 = Paula Bennett

| successor1 = Gerry Brownlee

| primeminister1 =

| order2 = Deputy Leader of the National Party

| term_start2 = 22 May 2020

| term_end2 = 14 July 2020

| leader2 = Todd Muller

| predecessor2 = Paula Bennett

| successor2 = Gerry Brownlee

| order3 = 46th Minister of Education

| term_start3 = 2 May 2017

| term_end3 = 26 October 2017

| primeminister3 = Bill English

| predecessor3 = Hekia Parata

| successor3 = Chris Hipkins

| order4 = 13th Minister for Youth

| term_start4 = 31 January 2013

| term_end4 = 26 October 2017

| primeminister4 = {{ubl

| John Key

| Bill English

}}

| predecessor4 = Paula Bennett

| successor4 = Peeni Henare

| order5 = 11th Minister for ACC

| term_start5 = 6 October 2014

| term_end5 = 20 December 2016

| primeminister5 = {{ubl

| John Key

| Bill English

}}

| predecessor5 = Judith Collins

| successor5 = Michael Woodhouse

| order6 = 22nd Minister of Civil Defence

| term_start6 = 22 January 2013

| term_end6 = 20 December 2016

| primeminister6 = {{ubl

| John Key

| Bill English

}}

| predecessor6 = Chris Tremain

| successor6 = Gerry Brownlee

| constituency_MP7 = {{NZ electorate link|Auckland Central}}

| parliament7 = New Zealand

| term_start7 = 8 November 2008

| term_end7 = 6 September 2020

| majority7 = 1,497 (4.38%)

| predecessor7 = Judith Tizard

| successor7 = Chlöe Swarbrick

| birth_date = {{birth date|1980|02|11|df=y}}

| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| birthname =

| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|11|23|1980|02|11|df=y}}

| nationality =

| party = National Party

| spouse =

| partner =

| relations =

| children =

| residence =

| alma_mater = {{ubl

| University of Otago

| Victoria University of Wellington

}}

| occupation =

| profession =

| cabinet =

| committees =

| portfolio =

| religion =

| signature =

| website = {{Official URL}}

| footnotes =

}}

Nicola Laura Kaye{{Cite web |title=New Zealand Hansard – Members Sworn [Volume:651;Page:2] |url=http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/5/c/4/49HansD_20081208_00000010-Members-Sworn.htm |publisher=New Zealand Parliament}} (11 February 1980 – 23 November 2024) 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.

Kaye served as the member of the New Zealand Parliament for the {{NZ electorate link|Auckland Central}} electorate from 2008 until 2020. She was a Cabinet minister in the Fifth National Government, holding the portfolios of civil defence and youth from 2013. In 2017, she was Minister of Education for five months.

In September 2016, Kaye took sick leave from the House of Representatives for breast cancer treatment{{Cite web |date=6 September 2016 |title=Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye stands down after breast cancer diagnosis |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/aucklander/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503378&objectid=11704372 |access-date=10 September 2016 |website=The Aucklander |publisher=NZME}} and returned to Parliament in early 2017 to resume full duties.{{Cite news |last=Sachdeva |first=Sam |date=6 December 2016 |title=National MP Nikki Kaye returning to full duties after breast cancer treatment |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/87253496/National-MP-Nikki-Kaye-returning-to-full-duties-after-breast-cancer-treatment |access-date=8 December 2016 |work=Stuff.co.nz}} She left politics at the 2020 general election and died of breast cancer in November 2024.

Early life

Kaye was born in Auckland and grew up in the surrounding suburbs of Epsom and Kohimarama.{{Cite news |date=4 May 2008 |title=Battle looming in Auckland Central |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10507767&pnum=0 |access-date=4 April 2010 |work=The New Zealand Herald}} Kaye's parents separated when she was seven years old.{{Cite news |last=Russell |first=Nicola |date=20 April 2017 |title=National MP Nikki Kaye: 'Why John Key refused my resignation' |url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/health/body-fitness/national-mp-nikki-kaye-why-john-key-refused-my-resignation-31922/ |access-date=27 November 2024 |work=Now to Love}} Her family includes a brother and sister, "two half-brothers, four half-sisters, one stepbrother and two step-parents".

She was originally going to be called Laura, her middle name, as she said in a Radio NZ interview: "I was supposed to be called Laura, my middle name, but my dad got it wrong on the birth certificate, so I ended up being called Nicola."https://rnz.liveblog.pro/lb-rnz/blogs/6744e46d6b576706e10dfdae/index.html?liveblog._id=urn:newsml:localhost:2024-11-25T23:26:56.331207:b1a31efc-f40c-4608-9709-eebf8334a996-%3Eeditorial

She was educated at Victoria Avenue Primary School, Remuera Intermediate School, and Corran School (where she was head prefect), before earning a science degree in genetics from the University of Otago, where she also began her Bachelor of Laws. She would later complete her law degree in Wellington.{{Cite magazine |last=Cronin |first=Aimie |date=19 June 2017 |title=Class Captain: Nikki Kaye, New Zealand's youngest female Minister of Education |url=https://www.noted.co.nz/currently/currently-profiles/class-captain-nikki-kaye-new-zealands-youngest-female-minister-of-education |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530110046/https://www.noted.co.nz/currently/currently-profiles/class-captain-nikki-kaye-new-zealands-youngest-female-minister-of-education |archive-date=30 May 2020 |access-date=20 May 2020 |magazine=New Zealand Listener |location=Auckland |via=Noted}}

Kaye was an accomplished competitive athlete, having been the Auckland Women's 3,000 m running champion in 1997, and has raced in numerous marathons and multi-sport events. In 2008 Kaye competed in the Coast to Coast multi-sport event. In February 2013, Kaye completed the Coast to Coast race a second time, becoming the first New Zealand Cabinet minister to do so.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Tony |date=12 February 2013 |title=Nikki Kaye conquers day one of Coast to Coast |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/8281219/Nikki-Kaye-conquers-day-one-of-Coast-to-Coast |access-date=25 November 2024 |work=Stuff |language=en-nz}}

In 1997, Kaye participated in a television documentary called Fish out of Water, in which she and five other teenagers were marooned on Rakitu Island (off Great Barrier Island) and fended for themselves for eight days. The documentary footage was located in March 2014 and was published on New Zealand on Air's on-line archive NZ On Screen as part of its "before they were famous" series.{{Cite web |title=Fish out of Water (1997) |url=http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/fish-out-of-water-1997 |access-date=18 March 2014 |publisher=NZ On Screen}}

Kaye joined the National Party in 1998, becoming women's vice-chair of the southern region of the New Zealand Young Nationals. ("I was the only woman in the room so I was elected," she said in 2008.) She was an International Vice-Chairman of the International Young Democrat Union.{{Cite web |title=New Zealand Election Report – a victory for those who kept the faith |url=http://iydu-network.org/new-zealand-election-report-a-victory-for-those-who-kept-the-faith/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215143717/http://iydu-network.org/new-zealand-election-report-a-victory-for-those-who-kept-the-faith/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=15 February 2015 |access-date=2 September 2017 |publisher=International Young Democrat Union}}

Kaye began working for Bill English in the office of the Leader of the Opposition in 2002 as a policy researcher. In 2003 she travelled to the United Kingdom, where she worked as a policy officer and project manager at the London boroughs of Enfield and Bromley, and then at Transport for London, where she managed a disabled people transport program, before working as an IT project manager at the Halifax Bank of Scotland.

Kaye founded a company, networkme.com, which developed software to help organisations identify candidates for volunteer and paid positions.{{Cite web |last=Phare |first=Jane |date=26 November 2024 |title=Battle looming in Auckland Central |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/battle-looming-in-auckland-central/Z4UBAQBODZUXN7ZX7SMARQJPEU/ |access-date=26 November 2024 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}

Member of Parliament

{{NZ parlbox

| party=New Zealand National Party

| list=57

| electorate={{NZ electorate link|Auckland Central}}

| start={{NZ election link year|2008}}

| end=2011

| term=49th

}}

{{NZ parlbox

| party=New Zealand National Party

| list=33

| electorate=Auckland Central

| start={{NZ election link year|2011}}

| end=2014

| term=50th

}}

{{NZ parlbox

| party=New Zealand National Party

| list=19

| electorate=Auckland Central

| start={{NZ election link year|2014}}

| end=2017

| term=51st

}}

{{NZ parlbox

| party=New Zealand National Party

| list=13

| electorate=Auckland Central

| start={{NZ election link year|2017}}

| end=2020

| term= 52nd

}}

Kaye returned to New Zealand in late 2007 to contest the National Party candidacy for the Auckland Central electorate. Standing against three other nominees, including sitting list MP Jackie Blue, Kaye's win was considered an upset.{{Cite news |last=Watkin |first=Tracy |date=18 March 2008 |title=Three in running for party selection |work=The Dominion Post |page=A6}}

Kaye worked full-time as the National Party candidate from the time of her selection. She campaigned on improving public transport infrastructure, improving marine protection around Great Barrier Island, and taking a greater interest in small businesses in Auckland. During her campaign she knocked on 10,000 doors.{{Cite web |date=11 November 2008 |title=Nikki makes history in Auckland Central |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/714026 |access-date=6 January 2011 |publisher=Auckland City Harbour News}}

At the general election on 8 November 2008, Kaye was elected as National's MP for Auckland Central, defeating incumbent Labour MP Judith Tizard. This was a significant upset in the 2008 general election, breaking a 90-year hold by left-wing parties over the seat; Kaye became the first ever National MP for the electorate.{{Cite news |date=9 November 2008 |title=New MP Nikki Kaye outlines priorities for Auckland Central |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/new-mp-nikki-kaye-outlines-priorities-for-auckland-central/T62OTKD5N573WKESFBGAV456CM/ |access-date=25 November 2024 |work=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-nz}}

=First term=

File:Simon Bridges, Nikki Kaye, Cameron Brewer.jpg and Cameron Brewer in 2010]]

As an MP Kaye supported applications for the New Zealand Cycle Trail fund for routes in urban Auckland, on Waiheke Island and Great Barrier Island (the latter two islands being in her electorate as well).{{Cite news |last=Dearnaley, Mathew |date=11 January 2010 |title=Great Barrier wants cycleway link |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10619464 |access-date=30 October 2011 |work=The New Zealand Herald}} In early 2010, she broke with the National Party's policy of encouraging mining in conservation land, including on Great Barrier – claiming long connections to the island, and fitting in with her known support for environmental causes. She 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.{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Audrey |date=27 March 2010 |title=Blue-green ambitions |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10634569&pnum=0 |access-date=4 April 2010 |work=The New Zealand Herald}} Kaye was a supporter of reinstating trams for Auckland, and called for a feasibility study into extending the new Wynyard Loop.{{Cite web |date=5 July 2011 |title=Auckland Central MP calls for new tram line routes |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/5231079/Auckland-Central-MP-calls-for-new-tram-line-routes |access-date=16 August 2011 |publisher=Stuff.co.nz}}

She holds up former National MP Katherine Rich as one of her role models. Kaye's own policies, placing her in the socially liberal wing of the National Party, were criticised by some people in her own party, where some called her a "high maintenance backbencher". Others called her "obsessive", or, in a more positive vein, "driven". However, commentators argued that her stance was unlikely to hurt her in her marginal electorate, which had traditionally voted Labour.

Kaye was elected the deputy chair of the government administration committee in February 2011. In her first parliamentary term, she also sat on the local government and environment committee and the Auckland Governance legislation committee. Through her time in Parliament on these committees she was heavily involved in the review of the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill and legislation creating the Auckland Council.{{Cite web |date=19 April 2011 |title=Nikki Kaye – Profile |url=http://www.nikkikaye.co.nz/profile/}}

In May 2011, Kaye appeared in an episode of the TVNZ series Make the Politician Work. The episode featured Kaye working a shift on a rubbish collection route and highlighted her campaign for waste minimisation in Auckland.{{Cite news |date=4 May 2008 |title=Make the Politician Work |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10507767 |access-date=12 February 2013 |publisher=TVNZ}}

At the {{NZ election link|2011}}, Kaye stood again in Auckland Central in a high-profile race to retain the seat. She 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. She defeated Ardern, although her majority was halved to 717, her share of the vote increased to 45.39%, due to significant strategic voting by Green Party voters supporting Ardern for the electorate vote.{{Cite web |date=10 December 2011 |title=Official Count Results – Auckland Central – 2011 General Election |url=http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2011/electorate-1.html |access-date=28 November 2011 |publisher=Electoral Commission (New Zealand)}}

=Second term=

Following the 2011 election, Kaye was elected chair of Parliament's education and science committee. During this time, despite her party not having a majority, she managed to progress a significant number of inquiries and pieces of legislation through the House process.{{Cite news |last=Vance |first=Andrea |date=26 January 2013 |title=Kaye brings energy, humanity and commitment to Cabinet |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8226023/Kaye-brings-energy-humanity-and-commitment-to-Cabinet |access-date=10 February 2013 |work=Dominion Post}} At the end of 2012, the committee completed an inquiry into 21st century learning environments and digital literacy, which Kaye championed.{{Cite news |last=Fletcher |first=Kelsey |date=10 February 2013 |title=Welcome to the world of a teacher-less classroom |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/schools/8284248/Welcome-to-the-world-of-a-teacher-less-classroom |work=Sunday Star Times}}

Kaye was instrumental in bringing a gay pride event back to Auckland,{{Cite news |last=Andrew |first=Dickison |date=10 February 2013 |title=Speaks to National MP Nikki Kaye |url=http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/player/ondemand/1895720039-national-mp-nikki-kaye |access-date=12 February 2013 |work=Newstalk ZB}} where there is a significant LGBT community in her electorate. In 2012, she worked with Green MP Kevin Hague on a private member's bill to reform adoption and surrogacy laws, which was introduced to Parliament that year.{{Cite news |last=Audrey |first=Young |date=28 May 2012 |title=Political rials unite on gay adoption laws |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10808932 |access-date=12 February 2013 |work=New Zealand Herald}} In August 2012, Kaye successfully led the campaign within the National Party to retain the alcohol purchase age at 18, despite significant support from parliamentary colleagues to raise the purchase age.{{Cite news |date=26 August 2012 |title=Q+A Debate Nikki Kaye debates with Tim McIndoe |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/mps-vote-drinking-age-options-5051795/video |access-date=12 February 2013 |work=1News}} On 29 August 2012, Kaye delivered a speech at Parliament in favour of Louisa Wall's Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013, which she voted for through all stages. This was met with a positive reception from members of the LGBT community.{{Cite news |date=18 April 2013 |title=MPs debate same-sex marriage bill |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/mps-debate-same-sex-marriage-bill/JPTR5LOUPSOI46P2MWV6CTSJIU/ |access-date=25 November 2024 |work=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-nz}}

=Third term and promotion to Cabinet Minister=

File:Nick Smith, Nikki Kaye, Jerry Mateparae, John Key, Michael Woodhouse.jpg as a Cabinet Minister in 2013]]

On 22 January 2013, Kaye was appointed by Prime Minister John Key to the Cabinet of New Zealand[https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2013-vr662 "Members of Executive Council Appointed"] (7 February 2013) 13 New Zealand Gazette 209 at 438. 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.[https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2013-vr663 "Appointment of Ministers"] (7 February 2013) 13 New Zealand Gazette 209 at 238.{{Cite web |date=22 January 2013 |title=Ministerial List for Announcement on 22 January 2013 |url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Ministerial%20List%20for%20Announcement,%20January%202013.PDF |publisher=Beehive}}

After the 2014 general election, Kaye was appointed Minister for ACC,[https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2014-vr6338 "Appointment of Ministers"] (16 October 2014) 127 New Zealand Gazette 3475 at 3552. while retaining her portfolios in civil defence, youth, and education.[https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2014-vr6334 "Resignation of Ministers"] (16 October 2014) 127 New Zealand Gazette 3475 at 3551. In September 2016, she took leave from Parliament and her ministerial duties while being treated for breast cancer.{{Cite news |date=5 September 2016 |title=Breast cancer diagnosis 'devastating news for me and my family' – Govt Minister Nikki Kaye |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/breast-cancer-diagnosis-devastating-news-me-and-my-family-govt-minister-nikki-kaye |access-date=14 July 2020 |work=1 News |publisher=TVNZ}} She returned to Parliament in early 2017 to resume full duties and was promoted to Minister of Education in May 2017.{{cite news |title=Gerry Brownlee appointed foreign affairs minister and newcomer Mark Mitchell gets big promotion |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/91855610/cabinet-reshuffle-nikki-kaye-sure-bet-for-education-but-who-will-be-foreign-affairs-minister |access-date=9 January 2025 |website=Stuff }}

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.

=National Party deputy leader=

In May 2020, there was a challenge to the National Party leadership, where Todd Muller sought to replace Simon Bridges as leader of the National Party. The media reported days ahead of the vote that 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.{{Cite news |last=Trevett |first=Claire |last2=Walls |first2=Jason |date=20 May 2020 |title=National leadership coup: Todd Muller confirms he'll challenge Simon Bridges on Friday |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12333461 |access-date=20 May 2020 |work=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ |issn=1170-0777}}{{Cite web |last=Block |first=George |date=21 May 2020 |title=Nikki Kaye 'very busy' as she heads to Wellington with challenge vote looming |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300017534/nikki-kaye-very-busy-as-she-heads-to-wellington-with-challenge-vote-looming |access-date=21 May 2020 |website=Stuff |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=22 May 2020 |title=Live: Todd Muller beats Simon Bridges in National Party leadership contest |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300017906/live-simon-bridges-and-todd-muller-in-national-party-leadership-contest |access-date=22 May 2020 |website=Stuff |language=en}} On 22 May 2020, the party parliamentary caucus elected Muller as leader and Kaye as deputy leader.{{Cite web |date=22 May 2020 |title=Todd Muller elected National leader, Simon Bridges ends two-year reign |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300018336/todd-muller-elected-national-leader-simon-bridges-ends-twoyear-reign |access-date=22 May 2020 |website=Stuff }}

On 25 May 2020, she incorrectly described Paul Goldsmith as Māori when defending the diversity of Muller's Shadow Cabinet.{{Cite news |last=Small |first=Zane |title=Politics Nikki Kaye incorrectly describes Paul Goldsmith as Māori defending diversity of National's Shadow Cabinet |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/nikki-kaye-incorrectly-describes-paul-goldsmith-as-m-ori-defending-diversity-of-national-s-shadow-cabinet.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621042911/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/nikki-kaye-incorrectly-describes-paul-goldsmith-as-m-ori-defending-diversity-of-national-s-shadow-cabinet.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 June 2020 |access-date=26 May 2020 |agency=Newshub}}{{Cite news |last=Whyte |first=Anna |title=National's new deputy leader incorrectly describes Paul Goldsmith as Māori |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/nationals-new-deputy-incorrectly-describes-paul-goldsmith-m-ori |access-date=26 May 2020 |agency=TVNZ}} On 2 July 2020, 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.{{Cite news |last=Cooke |first=Henry |date=2 July 2020 |title=National reshuffle: Simon Bridges gets foreign affairs role, but not a high ranking |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300047318/national-reshuffle-simon-bridges-gets-foreign-affairs-role-but-not-a-high-ranking |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702011645/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300047318/national-reshuffle-simon-bridges-gets-foreign-affairs-role-but-not-a-high-ranking |archive-date=2 July 2020 |access-date=2 July 2020 |work=Stuff}}{{Cite news |last=Cheng |first=Derek |date=2 July 2020 |title=National's Todd Muller's first reshuffle – winners and losers revealed |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12344869 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702011320/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12344869 |archive-date=2 July 2020 |access-date=2 July 2020 |work=New Zealand Herald}}

Following Todd Muller's resignation as National Party leader, Kaye became acting (interim) leader for several hours.{{Cite news |last=Whyte |first=Anna |date=14 July 2020 |title=Nikki Kaye to serve as acting leader of National after Todd Muller's resignation |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/nikki-kaye-serve-acting-leader-national-after-todd-mullers-resignation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714012415/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/nikki-kaye-serve-acting-leader-national-after-todd-mullers-resignation |archive-date=14 July 2020 |access-date=14 July 2020 |work=1News |language=en-NZ}} Later that day, Judith Collins was elected to succeed Muller, and Gerry Brownlee replaced Kaye.{{Cite news |last=Sadler, Rachel |date=14 July 2020 |title=Judith Collins announced as new National Party leader |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/judith-collins-announced-as-new-national-party-leader-source.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715231737/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/judith-collins-announced-as-new-national-party-leader-source.html |archive-date=15 July 2020 |access-date=14 July 2020 |work=Newshub}} Kaye announced that she was leaving politics two days later, with her resignation taking effect at the October 2020 general election.{{Cite news |date=16 July 2020 |title=Live updates: Nikki Kaye quitting politics, Amy Adams follows |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/421312/live-updates-nikki-kaye-quitting-politics-amy-adams-follows |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715231447/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/421312/national-mps-nikki-kaye-and-amy-adams-quitting-politics |archive-date=15 July 2020 |work=Radio New Zealand}}

In her valedictory speech in July 2020, Kaye said, "To the Parliamentarians, I've always said I believe there are two types of Parliamentarians in this place: Those that are in it for themselves and those that are in it for the country. Be the latter. Be brave and have courage. Don't leave anything in the tank."{{Cite web |date=26 November 2024 |title=Nikki Kaye: 'She achieved a remarkable amount in 44 years' |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/534875/nikki-kaye-she-achieved-a-remarkable-amount-in-44-years |access-date=26 November 2024 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}

Death

Kaye died of breast cancer on 23 November 2024, at the age of 44.{{Cite web |date=26 November 2024 |title=Former National Party Minister Nikki Kaye dies, aged 44 |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/534834/former-national-party-minister-nikki-kaye-dies-aged-44 |access-date=26 November 2024 |website=Radio New Zealand |language=en-nz}}{{Cite web |date=27 November 2024 |title=NZ Herald Death Notices – Nikki Kaye |url=https://www.legacy.com/nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/name/nicola-kaye-obituary?id=56864826 |access-date=27 November 2024 |website=Legacy |language=en-nz}} Her father, lawyer Peter Kaye, died several days after her.{{Cite web |date=29 November 2024 |title=Peter Kaye, the father of former National MP Nikki Kaye, has died |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/535246/peter-kaye-the-father-of-former-national-mp-nikki-kaye-has-died |access-date=30 November 2024 |website=Radio New Zealand |language=en-nz}}

References

External links

{{Official website}}
[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz-election-2008/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501799&objectid=10542092 Auckland Central MP's heartfelt belief], NZ Herald
[http://inthehouse.co.nz/taxonomy_vtn/term/71 Parliament TV – Nikki Kaye]

{{s-ttl | title = Member of Parliament for Auckland Central |years=2008–2020}}

{{s-ttl | title = Deputy Leader of the National Party |years=2020}}