Kelly Chal's citizenship gaffe meant she was an MP for 17 days and took the shine off United Future's rise from obscurity to eight seats at July's general election.
She was one of several unknowns selected to stand for Peter Dunne's part centrist, part Christian United Future Party.
Before the election, Mrs
Chal, an Indian-born Englishwoman, signed a form declaring she was eligible to stand for Parliament.
Mrs Chal, No 5 on the United party list, went on to be elected to Parliament.
But she was not a New Zealand citizen as required under the Electoral Act.
Her ineligibility was picked up by Internal Affairs when it received her application for citizenship about two weeks after the election.
She was forced out of the job, but an investigation by Chief Electoral Officer David Henry said Mrs Chal had not deliberately tried to break the law.
What is she doing now?
"Recovering." The past 4 1/2 months have been difficult for Mrs Chal.
The former careers counsellor with Career Services in Manukau suddenly found herself on the other side of the fence.
No job, no money and feeling like "the stuffing had been knocked out of me".
"But I have been taking time out and enjoying the family," says the mother of four.
"They have been really supportive, especially my youngest 11-year-old son, who said 'Mum, just get over it'."
After nearly three months out of work , Mrs Chal was offered casual work back at Career Services in Manukau, followed by a permanent position.
She also got her New Zealand citizenship, with three of her children. But not without a hitch. Two days before the citizenship ceremony, the presiding justice of the peace got sick and there was a delay.
"I can be an MP now, can't I?" said Mrs Chal, who has not lost her sense of humour through the year's ordeals.
Does she still harbour political ambitions?
"We will see what happens in the next 2 1/2 years. At the moment I'm just doing what I'm doing and I will see how well I recover."
