Former New Zealand MP Nikki Kaye dies at 44 after cancer battle

Nikki Kaye, a former MP for Auckland Central and deputy leader of the National Party, has died at age 44 after a long battle with cancer. Her death was announced following a private family service and cremation. Kaye was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 and left politics in 2020. Tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and former rival Jacinda Ardern expressing their condolences. Kaye served as an MP from 2008 to 2020, winning two elections against Ardern in a highly competitive seat. Her family has requested donations to Mercy Hospice in lieu of flowers.