KEY POINTS:
Bronagh Key is a woman of contrasts. She wears subtle jewellery that could be the equivalent of Niue's GDP.
Yet, she says, she is a "bit of a tomboy actually", who's learning how to kickbox, avoids make-up during the day and can't cook properly.
She is the girl who grew up in a working class Christchurch suburb, once voted Labour and who now resides in an $8 million home in swanky Parnell, Auckland. The Keys have travelled the world together and their fortune is estimated at $50m.
Until now, Bronagh, who turns 45 in two weeks, has kept a low profile.
Apart from a couple of gushy women's magazine articles, we've barely heard from the First-Lady-in-Waiting.
That's the way she likes it, but she knows it's not sustainable just a week out from the general election.
Today, with a National Party minder in tow, she has donned make-up for the Herald on Sunday photographer.
It's not her usual style. "I had to borrow [daughter] Stephie's mascara actually! I am a jeans type of person."
She also describes herself as "slightly between extrovert and introvert". "I very much see it that John is the politician.
I'm not and the kids aren't but I appreciate that with that comes scrutiny. I am open to the scrutiny but I do think I am also allowed to maintain my kids' privacy _ not everything has to be out there."
The couple have two children _ Stephie, 15, and Max, 13. Both are already making names for themselves in different fields: Stephie in fashion and Max on the baseball diamond.
It's difficult to gauge from Bronagh just how much of an influence she is having on her husband. She says she acts as a "sounding board".
John Key told the Herald on Sunday last month that Bronagh was unimpressed over his handling of the Tranz Rail shares issue.
"I am his wife. He comes and chats about his day and talks about this and that. As far as giving advice, he'll ask for my opinion just as he'd ask lots of people. That's as far as it goes. Anything I say doesn't make John's mind up."
She does, she says, "shoot from the hip", although she is evasive as I try to engage her on certain political issues. She bats away questions about Key's criticised flip-flops, the Maori seats and Lord Ashcroft.
She will, however, talk about Helen Clark. The two women have never met but Bronagh has admiration for her husband's rival. She insists Clark was wrong in the first leaders' television debate when she implied John Key shouted over people at home.
"I think [the comment] was in the heat of the moment and it was a bit unfortunate. What she said couldn't be further from the truth."
Bronagh and John first met in Christchurch, at the home of one of her girlfriends. She was 16, he was a few years older. John Key opened the door to find Bronagh Dougan in tears on the doorstep.
"I'd failed an exam or test at school and I'd biked around to her house because she had, as well. John was tutoring her in economics."
She doesn't think it was love at first sight, although John is adamant it was.
They next met, accidentally, at the Russley Hotel, where Bronagh was waitressing. She was in a "long gaberdine maxi skirt and a peach chiffon blouse with a big bow... very tacky," she laughs.
John, who was with his mum, didn't know Bronagh worked there but she certainly made an impression. He told his mother: "See that girl, I am going to marry her."
A few weeks later he invited her to the A&P Show. "My mum and dad liked him straight away _ he was always very good with them _ and he would come around a lot on his skateboard... it's not a pretty sight!"
KEY PROPOSED during her last year at Canterbury University, at the Chateau on the Park restaurant. "I remember saying to him on one condition _ that we had to buy a laundry basket on the way home, because he is really bad at dropping his clothes all over the bedroom floor."
Bronagh's on to her third diamond ring _ an expensive and upgraded piece of bling he gave to her on their 13th wedding anniversary in Paris. She's also wearing a Cartier bracelet _ a birthday present.
It is perhaps unsurprising, then, to hear her describe her husband as generous. And humorous. And warm. And family focused.
"I think John can relate to people really well and from all walks of life. He's an intelligent guy. He can relate to people intellectually, but he can have a laugh with anyone."
She says she and John hardly ever fight. She can't remember the last time. When they do, it's "usually me getting my knickers in a knot about something. John just doesn't engage. Yes, we are not perfect _ we do have disagreements".
I ask her about other wives of famous politicians _ Carla Bruni, Laura Bush, Cindi McCain, and Michelle Obama. She says she doesn't take much notice of them.
A blogger recently compared Bronagh with Bruni. "I suspect you don't know the standing joke with our children when they read that sort of thing _ `one's a supermodel and the other's a super midget'. That sums that up."
Bronagh is physically small, but she packs a kick. Her daily routine involves gym work. She's also been learning kickboxing, with mixed success.
Bronagh, who studied for a bachelor of commerce degree at Canterbury University and moved into a personnel career, no longer works and admits to missing the social contact of a workplace.
When she comes home from the gym each day she has what she describes as "me" time. "Sometimes I might do a class, like I enjoy learning Italian, so that's good for my brain."
There is little doubt this is a tight family unit. They have moved with the jobs and adapted to the high public profile Key has endured since taking over from Don Brash.
As a mum she says she is concerned with the same issues as any other New Zealander. "You want your kids to do really well in life, so [it's about] getting a good education and what their futures will be like."
I ask the same question I posed to Peter Davis, which appears to have upset a few readers _ the matter of their love life. In good spirits, Bronagh brushes it off. "I don't even talk about that with my close friends, so I'm not going to tell you!"
Key has infamously said he'd turn gay for Brad Pitt. Bronagh says: "I think he's more interested in Angelina Jolie _ but I'll have Brad!"
