# Nicole McKee

Nicole Raima McKee (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

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.

## Political career

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. The new restrictions on gun ownership and game animal management are the issues which propelled her to enter politics. She met David Seymour, ACT's leader, through their opposition to those gun laws, and joined the ACT Party in June 2020.

### First term, 2020–2023

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. In her first term, she was ACT's spokesperson for firearms law reform, conservation, justice and veterans.

### Second term, 2023–present

McKee contested Rongotai unsuccessfully for a second time at the 2023 general election, coming fourth place. She was re-elected to Parliament for a second term as a list MP.
Following the formation of the National-led coalition government, McKee became Minister for Courts and Associate Minister of Justice (Firearms) in late November 2023.

#### Three strikes legislation

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Luxon confirmed that the Government would proceed with plans to reintroduce three strikes legislation, which had been repealed by the previous Labour Government.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.
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. The Bill passed into law on 10 December 2024.

#### Firearms

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.
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."
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. In response to Cahill's criticism, McKee defended the consultation process and said that Police had been consulted.

#### Justice

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.

## Personal life

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