21st International Conference on The Future of Asia

Thursday May 21 andFriday May 22, 2014

speakers

Nikki Kaye

Nikki Kaye

Minister of Civil Defence, New Zealand

Nikki Kaye was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Auckland Central electorate in 2008, winning the seat for the National Party for the first time in New Zealand’s history. She was re-elected as the MP for Auckland Central in the 2011 and 2014 elections.

 

Following her re-election in 2011, Nikki held the role of Chair of the Education and Science select committee. In April 2012 she successfully called for a Parliamentary Inquiry into digital literacy and 21st century learning environments. The select committee reported back to Parliament in December 2012.

 

In January 2013, Nikki was promoted to the National Government’s Cabinet and given responsibility for Ministerial portfolios of Food Safety, Civil Defence and Youth Affairs. She was also made Associate Minister of both Immigration and Education.

 

After re-election in 2014, Nikki was promoted within Cabinet and given Ministerial responsibility for ACC, Civil Defence, and Youth. She was also made Associate Minister of Education.

 

Since being elected as a Member of Parliament, Nikki has been a vigorous advocate for environmental and local government issues and has helped deliver a number of projects locally in Auckland Central, including the recently announced Conservation Park on Great Barrier Island. She was an integral member of the Select Committee that reformed Auckland’s Local Government system.

 

Prior to entering Parliament as an electorate MP, Nikki worked in both the public and private sector. She has held roles in the United Kingdom at the Halifax Bank of Scotland, Transport for London, and in Social Services. She also worked as a researcher in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in New Zealand while still studying at university.

 

Nikki was born and educated in Auckland. She attended Corran School where she was Head Prefect. She gained a Bachelor of Science from the University of Otago, majoring in Genetics. She has also completed a Bachelor of Laws in 2009. Nikki’s interests include reading and films, and she is a keen participant in sporting events. She has completed several marathons and the Coast to Coast in both 2008 and 2013 – a 240km multi-sport race from the West Coast to the East Coast of New Zealand’s South Island.

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