Any excuse for karaoke is a good one in National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett's books, and she ticked off her half-century with a surprise party, cake, karaoke and the obligatory leopard print.
Bennett turned 50 on Tuesday and the occasion was marked with a surprise party for her on Monday night at a pub in Wellington, attended by friends, staff, former staff and colleagues.
Karaoke was a key feature of the night - one of Bennett's go-to songs is I Will Survive.
An enthusiastic Bennett treated the Herald to a rather loud rendition of it in her office on a wireless karaoke microphone she got for Christmas.
![National Party MP Paula Bennett in full cry with her karaoke microphone at Parliament on her 50th birthday. Photo / Mark Mitchell](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/LND5KUOP3SGEWQXGY52LZZYHNY.jpg?auth=e3b712c8dd9e17a75ba31c3abb264ef34a601e4c0b18d0e13546049bd8a31936&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)