Monday’s Three MPs

The Herald continues its profiles of the 34 or so new MPs:

Nikki Kaye

New Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye said the chance to reform Auckland’s regional governance was a “once in a generation opportunity” which if done right would be a critical legacy of the National government. …

She said the solution needed to balance a simpler structure while still ensuring community representation, and spoke about the diversity of her electorate and the different needs within it – from the apartment dwellers in the inner city to those living with the raw beauty and infrastructure needs of Great Barrier Island and the “Waihetians” – those from Waiheke Island.

Nikki is very lucky to have Waiheke and Great Barrier Island in her electorate. While they make it harder to get around the electorate, they’re both beautiful places to visit.

The second youngest MP in this term of Parliament, the 28-year-old Ms Kaye said to her generation would fall the task of coping with a new set of problems brought about by medical and technological advances.

While the information age had brought “immense power” so too had it brought challenges, such as ethical issues and privacy concerns.”Most people would applaud when they see genetics providing information that can help treat diseases such as cancer. However, our ability to obtain information about children not born yet is an example where not all of society may be on the same page. This Parliament and future Parliaments will grapple with these issues.”

Design your own child – it’s not that far away!

Todd McClay

Married with four children aged 1 to 10. Spent much of his working life overseas with the European Parliament where jobs included chief of staff to the leader of the British Conservatives and policy adviser.

Has also acted as policy adviser to the Irish Fianna Fail Political Group. In the private sector, he was founder and chief executive of the European Generic Medicines Association and a political adviser for lobby groups.

Was ambassador for Niue and the Cook Islands to the European Union from 2001 to 2007. Has honorary Cook Islands citizenship and is completing a masters degree in international public law.

There should be a bravery award also for living in Brussels for so long 🙂

In his own words:
“Many years ago, New Zealand society was based on the structure of the family. Neighbours knew and liked each other. Rural communities were strong and perhaps life was simpler. When a school needed a new swimming pool or a small community needed a hall, funds were raised to buy timber and cement. Now funds are raised for resource consent and development levies and many of our children no longer know how to catch a fish or climb a tree.”

All too sadly true.

Raymond Huo

Immigrated in 1994. He was son of a doctor and nurse, who had moved to a rural town in China to help fight schistosoma. Toward the end of the Cultural Revolution, his father – an “intellectual” – was ordered to stand at the gates of the hospital for an hour, three times a day with a white board stating “counter-revolutionary medical expert”. Mr Huo – then 5 – joined him with a smaller whiteboard saying “little counter-revolutionary medical expert”.

He said he secretly believed it was his little sign that ended the Cultural Revolution soon afterward.

That’s a superb story. Very cute.

In his own words:
“In hindsight, my journey to this House stretches back to my birth in that small rural town, from that small stage I once shared with my father and from the desire for free will that I inherited from my parents. That experience was relevant. It influenced and will continue to influence my politics and world outlook. I have learned to be resilient, I have learned to be kind, caring and more philosophical when confronting difficulties. To those who asked of my ‘secret weapon’ behind successful careers in Beijing and now New Zealand, I say it is simple: Double your efforts and halve your expectations.”

He should pass that advice on to Phil Goff 🙂