Brooke's act of service 'A CONCERT CHANGED MY LIFE'
New Zealand Woman's Weekly|September 18, 2023
The MP's date with destiny started with a song and ended in a proposal!
- Catherine Milford
Brooke's act of service 'A CONCERT CHANGED MY LIFE'

Brooke van Velden doesn’t immediately strike you as a politician. She’s young – she turned 30 this year, and she’s very calm and softly spoken.

“I was actually a very shy child,” smiles Brooke, who is wearing her signature vibrant pink at her Act electorate offices in Tāmaki – an old single-storey building that was once the St Heliers police headquarters.

“I used to go bright red if someone spoke to me. Mum tells me I’d cling to her skirt and not say anything. I much preferred books. I had friends, but I certainly wasn’t the life of the party!”

Despite her shyness, the building blocks of what Brooke was to become were being placed. The daughter of a nurse and a mechanic, and youngest sister of three boisterous brothers, Brooke was brought up reading the daily newspaper.

“My parents weren’t political, but they believed wholeheartedly in giving us a good education,” she recalls. “We were told we should never be afraid of having an opinion and we were expected to bring it to the dinner table. In our family, there were never devices at the table – there was discussion. Mum made sure I understood that being female, and the youngest of four, didn’t mean my opinion didn’t matter.”

この蚘事は New Zealand Woman's Weekly の September 18, 2023 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

この蚘事は New Zealand Woman's Weekly の September 18, 2023 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

NEW ZEALAND WOMAN'S WEEKLYのその他の蚘事すべお衚瀺
The perfect GETAWAY
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

The perfect GETAWAY

From lengthy airport clinches to party ghosting, Michéle examines goodbyes

time-read
2 分  |
November 11, 2024
Message in a BOTTLE
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Message in a BOTTLE

Kevin makes a discovery in his shed that piques his detective skills

time-read
2 分  |
November 11, 2024
Empowered & thriving!  PERFECT AT ANY AGE
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Empowered & thriving! PERFECT AT ANY AGE

Weekly editor Marilynn bravely shares her bold new approach to living her best life at 50 and beyond

time-read
2 分  |
November 11, 2024
Nature goals FIND YOUR GREEN SPACE
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Nature goals FIND YOUR GREEN SPACE

From stressed to refreshed! Lifestyle medicine practitioner Dr Jenny Brockis shares the simple steps you should adopt to give your wellbeing a boost

time-read
2 分  |
November 11, 2024
Nature & the city KELLY & MARLEY'S WILD PROJECT
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Nature & the city KELLY & MARLEY'S WILD PROJECT

The podcaster’s eyes have been opened to a new way of life

time-read
3 分  |
November 11, 2024
TikTok star Paris 'I'M BRINGING OUR KAI TO THE WORLD
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

TikTok star Paris 'I'M BRINGING OUR KAI TO THE WORLD

After a tough start to motherhood, the foodie tells how she reclaimed her life

time-read
3 分  |
November 11, 2024
Love and the city! WENDYL'S CHANGE OF HEART
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Love and the city! WENDYL'S CHANGE OF HEART

After a decade in the country, she’s given up the good life to return home

time-read
3 分  |
November 11, 2024
New TV star Andy 'I THOUGHT BEIN AN ALL BLACK WAS TOUGH!' КрП
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

New TV star Andy 'I THOUGHT BEIN AN ALL BLACK WAS TOUGH!' КрП

It was a big shift channelling his talent into the hit show Moving Houses, but the sporting legend is a natural

time-read
4 分  |
November 11, 2024
Babies and beyond! INES HEALS BRAD'S HEART
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Babies and beyond! INES HEALS BRAD'S HEART

The actor is embracing life with his zero-drama’ partner

time-read
3 分  |
November 11, 2024
Spreading the joy SIR ASHLEY'S KINDNESS CLUB
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Spreading the joy SIR ASHLEY'S KINDNESS CLUB

The Kiwi health legend is taking a jab at teaching kids important life skills

time-read
3 分  |
November 11, 2024