The views of people who use health services need to be heard, Christie Teki says.
She's been a "frequent flyer" when it comes to using services both in Whanganui and nationally. She's standing for Whanganui District Health Board to represent other users of health services.
Aged 37, Ms Teki has spina bifida and is a full-time wheelchair user. But she said she was not looking for a sympathy vote.
She's also a mother and has worked as a checkout operator and in telemarketing. She now works part-time in the office and in health and safety for her brother's business.
She's taken part in an attempt to break a record for the world's longest poker game and she's written and published the story of her life, Just Want One... More. She and an illustrator are now working on two children's books.
As well as her experience using health services, Ms Teki went to two health board meetings when Whanganui's maternity services were at risk. She's keen for them to stay in Whanganui.
Standing for the district health board will be her first foray into the public arena, and she says she will give it 110 per cent.
Ms Teki is not standing as a disgruntled consumer, but said her experience of health services has been mixed.
"I've had good and bad moments. With any service there's always room for improvement and I just want to be part of that process."
She'd like to keep services local, accessible and "up to scratch", support those who provide them and grow the hospital to be the best it can be.
"I don't want to make all these big promises that I can't keep," she said.