“I am strong-minded, often outspoken, and always questioning,” she said.
“I am a Nimon before I am Katie. My surname has always defined me. My family’s history is their legacy, and my responsibility.”
Nimon, who was formerly the general manager of her family’s bus company Nimon and Sons, said she wanted to better support local businesses.
“I don’t claim to have all the answers, but you can’t spend your way out of every problem, nor can you regulate your way out of it. All you get is debt and dependency.”
She said the Napier electorate has “all the ingredients to be the place people move to for opportunities” and “stay for their dream career”.
“From Onekawa to Māhia, the industries are there - energy, space, tourism, film, ag and hort, and construction - we just need to get out of their way.
“I want this for the whole region, but I want to make a special mention of Wairoa - the heart of the Napier electorate.
“Wairoa has endless potential; its people are strong and proud.
“What I want for Wairoa is for rangatahi to not have to leave to find opportunities.
“Wairoa will achieve this for Wairoa, but we can meet them halfway with health, infrastructure, and services that make life there not just possible, but enviable.”
Nimon is one of four new MPs from Hawke’s Bay who are entering Parliament - alongside National’s Catherine Wedd (Tukituki), Labour’s Cushla Tangaere-Manuel (Ikaroa-Rawhiti), and National’s Mike Butterick (Wairarapa).
They will all be given the opportunity to share a maiden speech. Not all will be done this year.
