Three-term Auckland Central MP and advocate for glbti equality Nikki Kaye has today temporarily stepped down from her ministerial portfolios after being diagnosed with breast cancer. 36-year old Kay received the diagnosis on Friday and has asked for privacy after describing the news as "devastating." Kaye's ministerial responsibilities for ACC, Civil Defence and Youth will be picked up by fellow ministers and she says she will be "putting plans in place to ensure my electorate office has additional support during this time to ensure my constituents continue to get good support with their personal issues, policy ideas or queries. "I am fortunate to have wonderful hardworking staff and National party colleagues who are helping ensure this support is there for my constituents," she said. One of Kaye's most successful interventions on behalf of glbti people was to put public pressure on the Auckland City council to provide financial support for the setting up of the Auckland Pride Festival six years ago. She has been a regular at major glbti events including the Big Gay Out.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 5th September 2016 - 5:37pm