Kaye battling for Auckland Central seat

National’s youngest candidate, Nikki Kaye, has adopted some innovative ways to start her campaign trail in Auckland Central. When Chapel Bar in Ponsonby is mentioned as a starting point for door knocking, she laughs: “Have I been spotted?”

The 28-year-old candidate will go head-to-head with Judith Tizard come election day and has fought hard to be in the running for the seat.

“I think I represent the next generation of New Zealand. I think it is time for a change and I think Judith does represent probably what I call the past.”

Kaye has been door knocking, targeting community groups and visiting small businesses in the electorate. She knows that it is particularly important for her to be out there talking to the under-30s, especially in places like Chapel Bar.

In her new office, Kaye, with her striking paua necklace, talks animatedly while referring to her laptop.

“There weren’t many people that would’ve given me the odds of being selected at 28 in a seat like Auckland Central but I backed myself and fought my way through it.”
Having grown up in Auckland, she also confesses to a love of the waterfront, where she often runs: “You have to go where the voter goes. Get out amongst it.”

Kaye knows that a young, educated demographic inhabits the suburbs of her electorate – Herne Bay, St Marys Bay, Ponsonby, Grey Lynn and Westmere.

“There are challenges – it is a diverse electorate, Auckland Central. 67 per cent of the electorate are under 40.”

But she is more eager to fire a few questions at Te Waha Nui than continue with the interview.

“I’ll put my tape recorder on and I’ll release it to the media,” she laughs.

She’s canny. Kaye already has several years of political experience under her belt, including government work in the UK. Kaye talks eagerly about public transport. She believes there is a synergy between New Zealand’s transport system and that of the United Kingdom.

“One of the things I hope to talk about during the campaign is public transport and I think I’ve got some background in that.”

But she pulls back and in true National style, Kaye is tight-lipped as to what these plans are.

“I won’t say any more on that,” she laughs.

Helping to roll out the party’s broadband plan is also on the priority list and Kaye says it will be a great benefit to academic institutions in the electorate. She says from the feeling she has had so far on the ground, the seat is winnable. With the environment on her agenda, she expects to pull a few votes that Nandor Tanczos gained in 2005.

According to the National candidate, the contrast between her and Tizard will make for powerful political competition.

“I’ve actually been pretty amazed in terms of the response that I’ve been getting on the doorstep, particularly in traditional Labour areas.

“I’ve got people who have never voted National before but they are at this election.

“There is a feeling that there is a bit of arrogance and that Labour aren’t listening anymore. Things like the truckie incident – I just think people are ready for a change.”

So is National’s youngest candidate going to cope with the demanding lifestyle of an MP? With a serious expression, Kaye is adamant she is up for it: “I understand Parliament can be a very harsh and lonely place at times so I feel ready as a person and have the personal strength to do it.”

The determined Kaye survived a kayaking expedition in February where she became trapped under the water, rescued by her instructor.

“It was one of those moments where you do have doubts. What am I getting myself in for? But I thought, ‘no, I’m going to do it’.”