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Nicole McKee

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The Honourable
Nicole McKee
MP
McKee in 2023
12th Minister for Courts
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 November 2023
Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon
Preceded byRino Tirikatene
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for ACT party list
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 October 2020
Personal details
Born1971 or 1972 (age 52–53)[1]
Political partyACT
SpouseDuncan McKee[2]
Children4

Nicole Raima McKee[3] (born 1971 or 1972) is a New Zealand politician. She has been a Member of Parliament for ACT New Zealand since the 2020 general election. She currently serves as the 12th Minister for Courts and Associate Minister of Justice (Firearms).

Early life and career

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McKee was born in Lower Hutt. She moved to Rotorua in her teens, then returned to Wellington as an adult. McKee became pregnant when she was 24. Her partner died in a car crash a week before their daughter was born.[1]

Political career

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New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2020–2023 53rd List 3 ACT
2023–present 54th List 3 ACT

Mckee entered public life as a lobbyist for the Council of Licenced Firearms Owners. Appearing in the media to criticise the Sixth Labour Government's gun law reforms, passed following the Christchurch mosque shootings of 15 March 2019.[4] The new restrictions on gun ownership and game animal management are the issues which propelled her to enter politics.[5] She met David Seymour, ACT's leader, through their opposition to those gun laws, and joined the ACT Party in June 2020.[1]

First term, 2020–2023

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McKee ran for the electorate of Rongotai at the 2020 general election and was also ranked third on the ACT Party list. While she did not win the electorate, McKee was elected through the party list since ACT won 7.6% of the vote, entitling it to ten seats in Parliament.[6][7][8] In her first term, she was ACT's spokesperson for firearms law reform, conservation, justice and veterans.[9]

Second term, 2023–present

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McKee contested Rongotai unsuccessfully for a second time at the 2023 general election, coming fourth place.[10] She was re-elected to Parliament for a second term as a list MP.[11]

Following the formation of the National-led coalition government, McKee became Minister for Courts and Associate Minister of Justice (Firearms) in late November 2023.[12]

Three strikes legislation

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In April 2024, Associate Justice Minister McKee and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon confirmed that the Government would proceed with plans to reintroduce three strikes legislation, which had been repealed by the previous Labour Government. The new three strikes framework would only apply to sentences lasting at least two years, give judges greater discretion in cases where harsh outcomes would be "manifestly unjust," encourage offenders on their final strike to plead guilty, add strangulation and suffocation to crimes qualifying for three strikes sentences and demand a lengthy non-parole period for repeat murderers.[13]

On 25 June 2024, McKee announced that the Government would introduce the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill to reinstate the three-strikes legislation that was repealed by the previous Labour government.[14]

Firearms

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On 14 June 2024, McKee confirmed that the Government would introduce new firearms legislation by 2026 to replace the Arms Act 1983. Proposed changes include reviewing the firearms registry and transferring the Firearms Safety Authority from the Police to another government department.[15]

In late June 2024, McKee also defended the Government's plan to amend Part 6 of the Arms Legislation Act 2020, which requires oversight and regulation of shooting clubs and ranges. The New Zealand Police Association, Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand, Gun Control New Zealand, and the opposition Labour Party had criticised the Government for the short timeframe for public submissions and giving priority to select groups. In response, McKee defended the short consultation timeframe and argued that the law needed to be change to help club ranges and owners "struggling with burdensome and confusing regulation."[16]

On 12 August 2024, NZ Police Association's president Chris Cahill called for McKee to be removed from the firearms reform portfolio due to the union's exclusion from the consultation process for the amendment to the Arms Legislation Act. Cahill also accused McKee of being a gun lobbyist.[17] In response to Cahill's criticism, McKee defended the consultation process and said that Police had been consulted.[18]

Justice

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On 11 July 2024, McKee and Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announced the formation of a new retail crime advisory group to engage with victims, workers, business owners, retail experts and advocacy groups to combat retail crime. The advisory group will be allocated NZ$1.8 million a year and expected to last two years.[19]

Personal life

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McKee lives in Hataitai, Wellington. She is married, and she and her husband Duncan have four children.[1] She enjoys hunting and wool spinning.[5] McKee is Māori and her iwi is Ngāpuhi.[20][21]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Wade, Amelia (5 August 2020). "Election 2020: Party of 6? Meet the Act team who could soon become MPs". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  2. ^ Duff, Michelle (13 December 2011). "Builder gets degree, 39 years on". Stuff.
  3. ^ "Event – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz.
  4. ^ "ACT Party candidate Nicole McKee wants 'commonsense and practicalities' brought back into Government". Newshub. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b Doyle, Katie (1 August 2020). "Top five contenders who could join ACT leader David Seymour in Parliament". Radio NZ. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Rongotai – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  7. ^ "2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  8. ^ "2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result – Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Nicole McKee". ACT New Zealand. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Rongotai – Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  11. ^ "2023 General Election – Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Cabinet lineup for new government unveiled – who gets what?". Radio New Zealand. 24 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Watch: Three strikes policy to return with changes, PM announces". RNZ. 22 April 2024. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  14. ^ McKee, Nicole (25 June 2024). "Government introduces Three Strikes BIll". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  15. ^ "New gun laws in place by 2026 - Nicole McKee". RNZ. 14 June 2024. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  16. ^ Frykberg, Laura (25 June 2024). "Gun law reform proposal process 'non-democratic' and 'secretive', excluded critics say". Stuff. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  17. ^ Palmer, Russell (12 August 2024). "Police Association urges PM to strip gun reform portfolio off Nicole McKee". RNZ. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Minister Nicole McKee hits back at Police Association over firearms reform". Newstalk ZB. 12 August 2024. Archived from the original on 13 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Government sets up two-year advisory group on retail crime". RNZ. 11 July 2024. Archived from the original on 12 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  20. ^ Perich, Bronson (6 July 2020). "NZ firearms laws don't make the country safe – Nicole McKee". Māori Television. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  21. ^ "McKee, Nicole; Salesa, Jenny – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
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