• Nikki Kaye, the former MP for Auckland Central, has died after a long battle with cancer. 
• Kaye, 44, was a former deputy leader of the National Party and served as a minister in John Key’s Government. 
• She revealed in September 2016 she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. 
• Kaye announced in July 2020 that she was leaving politics at that year’s general election. 

A private family service was held for former National Party MP and government minister Nikki Kaye before her death was publicly announced. 

Two death notices for Kaye, 44, were placed in the Herald this morning, one from her family and the other from the Grey Lynn RSC (Returned Services Club). 

The notice from her family said she died on Saturday. A private cremation service was held on Monday. Her death was publicly announced yesterday, Tuesday. 

“A beloved daughter, sister, family member and friend, she lived a life filled with passion, determination, and an unyielding spirit. She will be missed,” the notice read. 

Kaye's political colleagues, commentators and pundits, friends and community members from across the political spectrum paid tribute to her yesterday. Photo / File 

The family asked for donations to be made to Mercy Hospice in lieu of flowers. 

It comes after an outpouring of grief and respect for the former Auckland Central MP from political colleagues, commentators and pundits, friends and community members from across the political spectrum. 

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called Kaye “a remarkable person and crusader for what she believed in”, with her contribution leaving “our country in a better place”. 

Her former rival in the Auckland Central electorate, Dame Jacinda Ardern, said she was “deeply saddened” by Kaye’s death and would have “liked to have talked with her just one more time”. 

Kaye’s prime minister Sir John Key said of her passing, “New Zealand has been robbed of such an outstanding and wonderful person far too young. 

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Nikki Kaye served as an MP for her electorate from 2008 until 2020. Photo / Mark Mitchell 

“Nikki was probably one of the most passionate, intense and dedicated people I’ve ever met,” Key said. 

“At the time when she publicly said she had breast cancer, she was privately saying to me it was much more significant and had morphed into other parts of her body and so the diagnosis initially was pretty dire. 

“When she had her 40th, we went along and I think she got up and said they gave her quite a low probability of actually getting to 40,” he said. 

Kaye served as an MP for her electorate from 2008, when she entered Parliament at age 28, until 2020. She beat Ardern in two races for the seat, considered by many to be one of the most marginal seats in the country. 

Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.