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As a girl, Melanie Mark-Shadbolt's earliest memory of politics was delivering Labour Party pamphlets in the streets of Christchurch with her dad Ron Mark. She "absolutely hated" those campaign duties ... but now the young mother-of-four is campaigning to join her father in Parliament.
If she does succeed - and it is a long shot - then she will be following in the footsteps of MPs like Moana Mackey and Roger Douglas, who sat alongside their parents on the green benches.
With dad moving up to Wellington to contest the Labour stronghold of Rimutaka, the 30-year-old brunette will be leading NZ First's bid for the blue-rinse vote in Christchurch.
She is up against Cabinet Minister Clayton Cosgrove, who has held the seat since 1999, and National MP Kate Wilkinson.
But she is not daunted: Mark-Shadbolt has known the power struggles of politics since primary school.
She watched her father leave Labour when Helen Clark rolled Mike Moore as the party leader.
"But we didn't talk politics around the dinner table.
"My earliest memories of politics was as a kid delivering pamphlets around Rolleston and Burnham, which I absolutely hated. It was the worst thing ever.
"When Dad started standing for Parliament, that's all you could think of: family photos and delivering pamphlets. But Mum and Dad never pressured us with politics."
Despite her political pedigree - with grandmother Marie Berry a Labour Party electorate chair - Mark-Shadbolt never had her own aspirations until her second year at Canterbury University.
She later graduated in 2000 with a double degree in political science, majoring in international relations, and Maori studies.
Marriage to firefighter Scott Shadbolt, four children and working full time put those kind of dreams on hold, until her father decided to move his campaign up north.
"I've always loved the thrill of politics, but I've decided to stand out of frustration more than anything.
"I'm passionate about Maori students who are at risk; it made me think I need to get off my butt and have a go."
Mark-Shadbolt is far younger than NZ First's usual demographic, but Ron Mark says his daughter is NZ First "through and through".
"Melanie is no soft touch. She doesn't believe life should be handed to people on a silver platter.
"She works hard and expects other people to."
But with NZ First struggling in the polls - nationally and leader Winston Peters trailing National's Simon Bridges in Tauranga - Mark's dream of his daughter joining him in the Beehive may be fanciful in 2008.
Still, he has no doubt whatsoever that one day she will become an MP.
"I've always had a hope and desire that Melanie would follow in my footsteps, hopefully to take over from me, eventually," said Mark.
"I know dads tend to always praise their daughters, but she is a young lady of exceptional talent and understanding of the needs of her generation."
