WILLOW-JEAN'S NEXT STEP 'I'M BEING THE BEST MP & MUMICAN BE'
Woman’s Day Magazine NZ|August 07, 2023
Well-known for breastfeeding in Parliament and battling period poverty, the Northland MP is a prime example of balancing politics and motherhood
WILLOW-JEAN'S NEXT STEP 'I'M BEING THE BEST MP & MUMICAN BE'

Most people will be aware of Northland MP Willow-Jean Prime because she breastfed her three-month-old baby Heeni in Parliament.

She was one of the first MPs to benefit from the changes in 2017 allowing parents to bring their babies into the debating chamber. Willow-Jean had only been an MP for two months and suddenly she was in the media spotlight.

At the time, she said, "Parliament is trying to accommodate me and other parents so we don't have to choose between careers and families. I see it as role-modelling and setting an example.

Six years later, Willow-Jean, 40, continues to set an example for how a woman MP can do her stressful job and raise a family.

"I wouldn't be able to be a mum and have an impact without the support of my whānau," she says. "Obviously there's my amazing husband Dion, who works full-time as a teacher but is also the main caregiver when I'm away in Wellington."

As if on cue, there's a knock on the door behind her. "Won't be a minute," she laughs.

She opens the door and has a quick conversation with now almost six-year-old Heeni about how Māmā is doing an interview and she needs to stay with Pāpā.

It's a conversation working mothers all have had at some point as they do a day's work.

But this working mum is also lucky to have her own mother, Adrieanne Downs, living three paddocks away. "We created a pā harakeke, which is intergenerational living," she says. "My mum has her house and my sister Season-Mary, who has a 16-month-old baby, has her space there as well."

Willow-Jean says both her name and her sister's were created by her parents in a rather democratic process.

"My dad loved the name Willow and my mum named me after Norma Jean - Marilyn Monroe," she chuckles.

"Mum has joked that Season was conceived in the kiwifruit season, so that has something to do with her name, but I think it was actually a reference to the four seasons."

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM WOMAN’S DAY MAGAZINE NZView all
TREASURE & TRAUMA
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TREASURE & TRAUMA

The launch of the new season of Celebrity Treasure Island doubled as an eighth wedding anniversary celebration for contestant Millen Baird and his wife Siobhan Marshall, who came fourth on the show back in 2022.

time-read
1 min  |
August 31, 2024
JUDGE JAY-JAY
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

JUDGE JAY-JAY

Radio diva Jay-Jay Feeney delivers her verdict on your biggest dilemmas

time-read
2 mins  |
August 31, 2024
CASEY'S BABY JOY 'OUR GIRL IS ALREADY SO LOVED'
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

CASEY'S BABY JOY 'OUR GIRL IS ALREADY SO LOVED'

The Te Puke gym owner refused to let a devastating accident stop her from becoming a mother

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
DEAD FUNNY! SHOSHANA'S GOING SOLO
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

DEAD FUNNY! SHOSHANA'S GOING SOLO

The Emmy Award-winning writer is starring in a macabre new comedy

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
TWO RAW SISTERS BABY MAKES THREE!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TWO RAW SISTERS BABY MAKES THREE!

Rosa and Margo have a new cookbook and bundle of joy on the way

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
HOME AND AWAY'S NEW MÃORI STAR
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

HOME AND AWAY'S NEW MÃORI STAR

The son of a Kiwi sporting Legend, Cantona Stewart is making waves in Summer Bay

time-read
2 mins  |
August 31, 2024
TV STAR AIDEE 'THE NIGHT I ALMOST DIED'
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TV STAR AIDEE 'THE NIGHT I ALMOST DIED'

The actress and director opens up about her terrifying ordeal

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
CARMEL SEPULONI  I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

CARMEL SEPULONI I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER!

Our former deputy PM the lessons she's learnt in politics on CTI

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
KENNEDY & SOLLY'S ROMANTIC RACE TO THE ALTAR
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

KENNEDY & SOLLY'S ROMANTIC RACE TO THE ALTAR

The Black Ferns co-captain and her rugby star husband organised the ir nuptials in just five days!

time-read
5 mins  |
August 31, 2024
THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!

Their lovable bromance is stealing the spotlight in Venice!

time-read
1 min  |
August 31, 2024