PJ TAYLOR talks with the other National Party Member of Parliament based in east Auckland. He finds out that she’s worked very hard to get to where she is, and appreciates her well-earned opportunities.
Where were you born and grew up?
I was born in Guangzhou, China, the home of Cantonese culture and language.
What was it like growing up in southern China?
To be honest, I don’t remember much because I was very young. What I do remember is my parents working incredibly hard – long hours every day. I often sat in the office while they worked. One vivid memory is when McDonald’s and Pizza Hut first opened in China, and the very first ones were in Guangzhou. Going there was a huge treat, a symbol of something exciting and new. To this day, McDonald’s is still one of my favourites because it reminds me of those joyful childhood moments.
Why did your family decide to come to New Zealand and when did you arrive?
My parents were engineers in China. In their mid-30s, they made a brave decision to leave behind everything familiar for a better future for their only child, me. We had a choice between Canada and New Zealand, and we chose New Zealand as our new home. We arrived in 1997, when I was nine, landing in Auckland and staying with friends in Avondale. But starting over wasn’t easy. Their qualifications weren’t recognised, and English language was a struggle. My mum’s first job was as a waitress in a small Cantonese restaurant. In just over a year, my parents deliberately moved to east Auckland, believing it was the best part of the city to raise a family. Over the past 30 years, we’ve lived across Pakuranga, Bucklands Beach, and Botany. My parents are now back in the same Pakuranga house they bought in the 1990s. It’s the house I grew up in and only left when I got married.
What schools did you go to and how was it integrating into the education system here?
I went to Avondale Primary, Pakuranga Intermediate, Macleans College, and then the University of Auckland. My early years were tough. I didn’t speak any English, starting school knowing just three words: hello, goodbye, and apple. That didn’t get me far! But my classmates and teachers were incredibly kind. I’ll always remember my first teacher, Mrs Sue McLaughlin, and my economics teacher at Macleans, Mr Steve Hargreaves, who’s now the principal. They were guiding lights in my education journey. For my parents, adapting to a new education system without Google or smartphones meant learning everything from phone books and paper dictionaries. It was a big adjustment for all of us.
How was your experience at the University of Auckland and what did you do after graduating?
I studied for bachelor of commerce and law degrees starting in 2006, majoring in accounting and international business. I graduated with first-class honours in international business in 2010 and received several graduate offers. Against my parents’ wishes, I went straight into work and didn’t complete my law degree, something they only forgave when I earned my master of public administration degree at Harvard Kennedy School in 2023. I began my career at Ernst & Young as a tax consultant and later worked as an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Both firms are among the world’s “Big Four”, and those years trained me to thrive under pressure, skills that now serve me well in Parliament.
Why did you decide to get involved in politics?
The short answer: friends and family. I first joined the National Party in 2015 after meeting Stefan Sunde, then president of the Young Nats. I was inspired by their energy, intellect, and optimism about New Zealand’s future. I wanted to be part of that. Soon I was volunteering – waving hoardings, door-knocking, helping with translations for Sir John Key and MPs – learning, connecting, and growing every step of the way. Later, I ran for office for one simple reason: my children. Our first daughter, Amber, was born on New Year’s Day 2020, just weeks before Covid-19 hit. Like many new parents, my husband Keven and I started questioning what kind of New Zealand she would grow up in. We saw rising costs, falling education standards, and increasing crime. We wanted to help change that. We chose to stay and fight for New Zealand rather than leave. After the 2020 election loss, I knew I needed to grow. I joined the Auckland Council as lead financial strategist to understand the public sector from the inside. In 2022, I left for Harvard University, leaving behind my daughters, then two-and-a-half and seven months old – the hardest decision I’ve ever made. That year taught me resilience, purpose, and perspective. When I returned in 2023, I went straight into the election, and now, two years later, I’m honoured to serve in government with a team determined to get New Zealand back on track.
How does it feel being one of the few Asian New Zealanders to become a Member of Parliament?
It’s an incredible honour. I worked hard to be heard, not just for Asian communities, but for everyone who believes in a better, fairer New Zealand. Asian New Zealanders contribute so much – economically, socially, and culturally, but we tend to stay humble and avoid confrontation. I want to encourage more people to speak up, to share their perspectives confidently. I’m proud to represent multiple voices: women, mums, working families, and younger New Zealanders. This is a privilege, and I give it my all, with authenticity, energy, and optimism.
What are your portfolio and select committee responsibilities?
I serve on the finance and expenditure select committee, often described as the most influential committee in Parliament. It scrutinises the Government’s spending, fiscal policy, and major financial legislation to ensure taxpayers’ money is used wisely. I’m also deputy chair of the regulations review committee, which checks that government regulations are lawful, reasonable, and fair, ensuring transparency and accountability across government actions.
Where are some of your favourite places and things to do in east Auckland?
I love Botany Town Centre. It’s where I had my first jobs: delivering newspapers in Huntington Park, working at Pak’nSave Botany, and flipping burgers at McDonald’s in the food court. And I absolutely love Eastern Beach. It’s full of memories – cross-country runs, school picnics, birthday parties, heart-to-heart talks with friends. Now, it’s where I go with my family to relax and recharge.
If there was one thing you’d like to see change in New Zealand society, what would it be?
I’d like to see more optimism and trust in the future of New Zealand. We have so much potential – talented people, strong communities, and a beautiful country – but sometimes we lose faith in ourselves. I want to help rebuild that confidence so everyone, no matter where they come from, feels they can build a good life here.
