Heather Roy, Act party, List

Heather Roy

How do you juggle five children with your job as an MP?

I've always been a juggler and I've always worked at least part-time since I've had my children. We live in Wellington, which makes it a bit easier, but there's no doubt politics is hard on families and the children and my husband put up with an awful lot. It's a matter of prioritising. I'm a reasonably organised person but I think you have to work out when you come to politics what your priorities are, and mine is my family.

How old are your children?

The eldest is 17, he's in the seventh form. Then I've got two girls who are 14 and 13 and two little boys who are 11 and 9.

How many hours a week would you spend in the job?

I don't know how many hours, but it's well over 40. I'm often staggered when people ask me if being an MP is a full-time job.

How did you get involved in politics?

I really had my arm twisted with politics. My husband, Duncan Roy, has always been political. He stood for Parliament for Bob Jones' New Zealand Party in 1984 in the Awarua seat in Southland. That's where we met - he was campaigning. He got my vote - and a bit more. A wife into the bargain.

Why did you join Act?

Because the messages of people having choices about the important decisions in their lives resonated with me. I firmly believe people have to be personally responsible about the decisions they make, and the issue of freedom is very important to me.

How does your husband feel about you getting into Parliament when he didn't?

He loves politics but I think that we decided quite some time ago that if one of us was going to be an MP I was the better person to do that job.

What did you do before entering politics?

I was a trained physiotherapist and worked as a physio both here and in Britain for three years. I came back here and did a bit of cardiac rehabilitation work as a physio and that moved on to medical research work. I co-ordinated medical research projects for some of the big pharmaceutical companies.

Do you think Act will be in Parliament after the election?

Absolutely. It would be great to be higher in the polls but when you look at where we have been this far out from an election previously, where we are at the moment is not inconsistent with where we've been before.

Are you anticipating a high list placing?

I would like to think that given two of our number are departing, I can move up the ranks a bit.

You have been an MP for only three years. Do you have a plan B should you not be re-elected?

I feel confident I'll be back, that I'll get a reasonable list placing and that the party will get over 5 per cent. Beyond that, my career path has not been one that has been ordinary or hugely planned. I'll be a mother and wife in the first instance and then see what comes, should that eventuate. But I don't think I'll need a plan B.

Have you been frustrated that the Government has kept health off the political agenda as effectively as it has?

They have been extraordinarily lucky. People talk about Helen Clark being a Teflon Prime Minister. Annette King is also a Teflon Minister of Health ... and managed to get by relatively unscathed despite huge concerns that are emerging in the health sector. It's frustrating sometimes but you just keep moving forward, and I think I've highlighted a lot of issues in health in the three years, particularly recently.