What’s a creative thing you like to do in your spare time?

I like to sing and play music at home with my daughter.

What’s your favourite creative thing to do with your whānau or friends?

We have family music nights where we all pick out songs and take turns singing – although, sometimes we do have some epic duets. Music is amazing therapy and has so many incredible benefits and also builds confidence. We have a lot of fun and it will always be one of my favourite memories being a mum.

Why is it important for young people to have creativity in their lives?

Creativity can increase positive emotions, help depression as well as reduce symptoms of anxiety. It’s also been proven to help strengthen our immune systems.  It also gives people a sense of satisfaction. We all could use a little more creativity in our lives.

Why does creativity and culture matter to Aotearoa New Zealand?

As mentioned above, there are significant health benefits to engaging with creativity. New Zealand is an incredibly diverse country and by highlighting all the cultures we have here is great way for us all to better understand one another.

If you were Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage, what’s the first thing you would do?

I will always advocate for the importance of creativity and supporting our arts sector.

If you were made Minister, would the government’s investment for creativity go up or down?

I don’t want to answer this with something you’d like to hear just for votes. The truth is, without truly seeing the state of where we are at, I couldn’t give you an honest answer.

What will your party do to ensure that artists have the opportunity to access fair pay and fees for their work?

I agree artists should have an opportunity to get paid properly for their work. I’d be interested to have a chat to understand this question further.