Nicola Willis (politician)

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Nicola Willis
MP
Nicola Willis 2020 (cropped).jpg
Willis in 2020
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Assumed office
30 November 2021
LeaderChristopher Luxon
Preceded byShane Reti
19th Deputy Leader of the National Party
Assumed office
30 November 2021
LeaderChristopher Luxon
Preceded byShane Reti
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for National Party list
Assumed office
3 April 2018
Preceded bySteven Joyce
Personal details
Born
Nicola Valentine Willis

(1981-03-07) 7 March 1981 (age 40)
Wellington, New Zealand
Political partyNational Party
Spouse(s)Duncan Small
Children4
Alma materVictoria University of Wellington
University of Canterbury[1]
WebsiteParty website

Nicola Valentine Willis[2] (born 7 March 1981)[3] is a New Zealand politician who is a Member of Parliament for the National Party. Willis took Steven Joyce's seat in Parliament as the next on the party list after his retirement from politics in March 2018.

Early life[]

Willis was born and raised in Wellington. She is the eldest of three children.[4] Willis' mother was a journalist in the Parliamentary Press Gallery.[4]

She graduated with a first-class honours degree in English literature from Victoria University of Wellington in 2003,[5] and earned a post-graduate diploma in journalism from the University of Canterbury in 2017.[6] She was a member of the Victoria University Debating Society, and competed in international tournaments.

After graduating in 2003, she worked as a research and policy advisor for Bill English. She went on to serve as a senior advisor to John Key in 2008. She has also worked for Fonterra.[1][7]

Political career[]

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2018–2020 52nd List 48 National
2020–present 53rd List 13 National


Willis speaking at the 2017 Wellington Central candidates debate

Willis contested the 2017 election as National's candidate for the electorate of Wellington Central,[8] and was number 48 on the party list. Based on preliminary results, she would enter parliament, but in the final results, National went down two seats whilst the Labour and Green parties increased by a seat each.[9] Willis was second in line should there be a vacancy in a list seat held by a National Party MP during the 52nd New Zealand Parliament, and after the resignations of Bill English's and Steven Joyce in March 2018, she and Maureen Pugh entered parliament.[3]

Leader Simon Bridges appointed Willis National's spokesperson on early childhood education.[10]

Willis was vocal against Grant Guilford's attempt to change Victoria University of Wellington's name to the University of Wellington.[11]

Willis played a significant role in the leadership coup that saw Bridges removed as Leader and replaced by Todd Muller,[12] acting as Muller's "numbers man" alongside Chris Bishop.[13] She was subsequently promoted to 14th in caucus with the portfolios of Housing and Urban Development, and retaining Early Childhood Education.[14][15] Muller resigned after 55 days becoming the shortest serving leader of any political party represented in Parliament in New Zealand's history,[16] being replaced by Judith Collins.[17] Willis was promoted to the front bench as 13th in caucus, and taking the education spokesperson role.[18] With Muller's backers Bishop and Willis rising under Collins, political commentators speculated that "potential dissenters are being kept busy with big new portfolios".[19]

During the 2020 New Zealand general election, Willis' party vote place improved greatly from 48th to 13th. She contested Wellington Central, losing to the incumbent Grant Robertson, but retained her list seat.[20]

After National Party Judith Collins lost a confidence vote and was removed by the National caucus on 25 November 2021, Willis was seen by the media and commentators as a contender to replace Collins as Leader of the National Party or to become deputy to whoever is elected leader.[21] Willis became deputy leader with Christopher Luxon as leader on 30 November.[22]

Political beliefs[]

Willis is described as a social liberal, and has a focus on LGBT rights and action on climate change.[23] She is a member of the National Party's BlueGreen environmental caucus.[24][25] Willis supports euthanasia, and is pro-choice.[4]

Personal life[]

Willis married Duncan Small in 2007, and they have four children.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "About Nicola". Nicolawillis.national.org.nz.
  2. ^ "Declaration by Electoral Commission that Nicola Valentine Willis is elected a Member of Parliament". 3 April 2018.
  3. ^ a b Nichol, Tess (6 March 2018). "Nicola Willis National's newest MP". Newstalk ZB.
  4. ^ a b c d "Nicola Willis at home: Who is National's new deputy leader away from the spotlight?". NZ Herald. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  5. ^ Wellington, Victoria University of (8 June 2016). "Roll of graduates". Victoria University of Wellington.
  6. ^ "Graduate Search – Alumni Association | University of Canterbury". The University of Canterbury.
  7. ^ McConnell, Glenn (5 September 2021). "Hive life: Golriz Ghahraman and Nicola Willis open up about sacrifices and motiviations". Stuff.
  8. ^ Small, Vernon (5 March 2017). "National chooses Nicola Willis for Wellington Central seat". Stuff.
  9. ^ "Meet NZ's newest MPs: Green's Golriz Ghahraman and Labour's Angie Warren-Clark". 1 News. 6 October 2017.
  10. ^ "Bridges unveils team to take on Ardern-Peters Govt". Scoop. 11 March 2018.
  11. ^ "No name change for Victoria University". Newsroom. 19 December 2018.
  12. ^ Trevett, Claire (20 May 2020). "National Party leader Simon Bridges expected to face no-confidence vote, how the week will shake down". The New Zealand Herald.
  13. ^ Trevett, Claire (24 May 2020). "Anatomy of a coup: How Todd Muller felled Simon Bridges and who helped him". The New Zealand Herald.
  14. ^ Small, Zane (25 May 2020). "National's Shadow Cabinet: Paula Bennett pushed down ranks, no sign of Simon Bridges". Newshub.
  15. ^ Gillespie, Kiri (26 May 2020). "'Once a peacock, now a feather duster': Ousted National leader Simon Bridges reveals plans and disappointment". The New Zealand Herald.
  16. ^ "New Zealand politics' shortest leaderships". Radio NZ. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  17. ^ Sadler, Rachel (14 July 2020). "Judith Collins announced as new National Party leader". Newshub. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  18. ^ Small, Zane (16 July 2020). "Simon Bridges given senior roles on National's frontbench". Newshub.
  19. ^ Bracewell-Worrall, Anna (16 July 2020). "NZ election 2020: The biggest winners and losers from Judith Collins' National caucus reshuffle". Newshub.
  20. ^ "2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  21. ^ "National leadership challenge: The six contenders after Judith Collins rolled". NZ Herald. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  22. ^ "Live: Chris Luxon confirmed as leader of National, Nicola Willis to be deputy". Stuff. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  23. ^ Mcconnel, Glenn (5 September 2021). "Hive life: Golriz Ghahraman and Nicola Willis open up about sacrifices and motiviations". Stuff.
  24. ^ "Blazers, Blue/Greens, and Birds: A Sit Down With Nicola Willis". Salient Magazine. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  25. ^ "Meet National's new blue-green liberal MP, Nicola Willis". Newshub. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
Party political offices
Preceded by Deputy Leader of the National Party
2021–present 		Incumbent
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