Nicola Willis says she was never “a Young Nat or anything” during her time at Victoria University of Wellington. It's been a huge turn around for the MP vying to be New Zealand’s next Finance Minister, who says she “wasn’t even into politics” while studying a BA in English Literature in the early 2000s. The National Party Deputy Leader was, however, a champion debater while studying, and admits that the debating society is the “dorky” way she met her now-husband.

“He was the third speaker, I was the second speaker. We went to various international national tournaments together and fell in love, as you do.”

Nowadays, Willis is campaigning alongside Christopher Luxon for a change in government, and has her sights set on leading the country’s economy. Salient sat down with Nicola Willis in her office to hear her plan for students.

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This podcast is a Salient Podcasts Production. Produced by Alex Marinkovich-Josey