Jet setting Todd McClay looks forward to family time over holiday period

Todd McClay is enjoying spending quality time in his electorate these holidays. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

In the past three years, Rotorua MP Todd McClay has travelled overseas 44 times to more than 100 countries.

But this holiday period, cleaning out the garage at his Rotorua home and spending time in his electorate will be his priorities.

It's been a mixed 2017 for McClay.

While he was thrilled to storm home in the general election - taking the Rotorua seat for a fourth term and winning it by the largest margin in the history of the seat, he also lost the job he loved as Minister of Trade and Minister of State Owned Enterprises.

McClay, who was quickly elevated in the National Party ranks under former prime minister John Key, spent a busy three years since 2015 in the two ministerial roles.

He travelled all over world and experienced things he never dreamed he would.

But McClay isn't crying about the change in circumstance. He said it was a role he was privileged to have and now it was his job as National's spokesman to ensure the current government continued that work.

"I've not found it difficult to readjust."

While sitting in opposition is a first for McClay since he was elected in 2008, it means he can spend more time in his electorate.

Cabinet sits in Wellington on Mondays, so now he's not required to travel to the capital until Monday night or Tuesday morning - meaning there are an extra 24 hours a week he can spend at home.

But that doesn't mean it's feet up in front of the telly.

He said given the size of the Rotorua electorate it will allow him more time to get around it.

But despite his busy international schedule during the past three years, he didn't think the local electorate suffered with him being away.

"I would argue that that's not the case. Since I was minister I ensured there was some benefit in having an MP that was Trade Minister and the office was just as busy as it was three to four years ago."

However, it naturally meant he would now be able to attend more events in his electorate.

"But the Rotorua electorate had a good run in the past three years. We have had more than our fair share of funding including in road safety and tourism funding and it was interesting to see that in the latest tourism funding announced by the new government Rotorua wasn't included."

McClay said Rotorua's economy was growing and more people wanted to live here, and he would make sure those benefits continued under the new government.

As husband to Nadene and father of four children, Joshua, 19, Sam, 17, Caelen 15, and Ana-Kiera, 13, McClay said he was looking forward to a few weeks' break over the festive season.

The McClays planned to stay at home, head to the beach, and jump in the car and drive somewhere for about a week - but nowhere too far away.

And besides, he's got a few chores around the house he needs to catch up on.

"As life gets busier, the garage gets more full of things that need to get sorted out."

2017 election results
Todd McClay (National) 18,788
Ben Sanford (Labour) 10,887
Fletcher Tabuteau (NZ First) 3062
Richard Gillies (Green) 1491
Wendy Biddle (Maori Party): 702