Juliet Rowan sits down with the wives of the Bay's MPs to find out their views on life, love and their latest role.
It has been a momentous week for Erika Mitchell.
First, she watched her husband, a political novice, win a seat in Parliament. Then, she celebrated her 36thbirthday and, on the same day, the mother of three became a New Zealand citizen.
When the English-born wife of New Zealand First's new list MP Clayton Mitchell caught up with the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend on Wednesday, she was also dealing with a sick 3-year-old.
We're both very similar. We're both pretty extroverted. We complement each other.
She was hoping her youngest, William, would be okay for the following day, when she was to attend a citizenship ceremony in Tauranga to mark her formal transition to a New Zealander after 13 years in the country.
A dinner with 17 family members was also planned for last night to mark the week's major events in the lives of her and her husband of nine years.
Erika says Clayton's victory after his last-minute selection for NZ First, when he was only elected to Tauranga City Council a year ago, feels incredibly exciting.
"What it is, I don't know, but it just feels completely normal and right."
Erika feels no apprehension about being in the limelight either, saying more than a decade working in hospitality with her husband has made them well known in the community.
She is relaxed, friendly and down-to-earth when we meet at the Mount's Tay St Cafe, where she and William are greeted warmly by staff. Erika says she and Clayton are prepared for the demands of political life because of their busy lifestyle.
"We never sit on our laurels. It's not like we're going from a quiet family existence."
Born in the Dorset countryside Erika came to New Zealand on her OE after doing a law degree and "never really left".
She was training to be a dive instructor when she met Clayton while working part-time at his bar, Mount Mellick.
Tauranga's newest MP Clayton Mitchell with Erika and their children Jazmin, left, Oliver and William on the beach at Mt Maunganui. Photo/George Novak
"It was fairly much love at first sight. It didn't take long for us to click."
Erika says their relationship is not a case of opposites attract: "We're both very similar. We're both pretty extroverted. We complement each other."
The pair always have a project on the go and although they both love a fast-paced life, Clayton is "full throttle" and sometimes needs her to calm him down.
In addition to taking care of their children, William, 3, Jazmin, 8, and Oliver, 6, Erika is also involved in the family business.
At one time, she and Clayton owned five bars, but that has been scaled back to one, the Mellick, to allow him to concentrate on his political career.
Erika is also thinking about furthering her own career now that the children are getting older.
She is looking at building up a portfolio of rental properties and doing some university papers to allow her to transfer her British law degree to New Zealand. Involvement with NZ First is also something that excites her. She has signed up to speak at two party meetings to allow local members to "get to know the wife of the person who represents them" in Parliament. "I think it's important to have that openness."
Clayton plans to step down from his role as a city councillor after initially saying he could do both jobs. However, a public poll disagreed by a 77 per cent majority and he agreed to abide by the result.
Clayton is likely to be in Wellington three days a week, but Erika is used to holding the fort alone. When he owned a business in Hamilton, he was away two nights a week and she says they already make the most of family time.
Erika Mitchell is the second in a series of articles into 'The women behind our Bay MPs'.
