New MP Ria Bond: My 'Once Were Warriors' upbringing

New MP Ria Bond spoke of a tough upbringing: 'From out of that rose strength, it rose courage, it gave me character, at times it caused me tears.' Photo / supplied

Stubbornness born from a childhood that included numerous stints in foster homes will be a trait that the country's newest MP brings to Parliament.

NZ First list MP Ria Bond has delivered a heart-felt maiden speech to Parliament, in which she talked about a "traumatic" upbringing.

"I was three years old when I was first removed from my family and put into a foster home...I spent five [periods] of my childhood in a foster home," Ms Bond said.

"Whilst the world was shocked with the movie Once Were Warriors, I was living it. From out of that rose strength, it rose courage, it gave me character, at times it caused me tears."

There was also a stubbornness to, "one day stand in this house as a member of parliament and look at how we can protect the children of the future."

Ms Bond is NZ First's 12th MP. Leader Winston Peters won the Northland byelection in March, taking a seat off the National Party.

He resigned as a list MP to allow his party to bring another MP into Parliament.

After standing for NZ First in Invercargill last year, where she owned and operated a hairdressing salon, Ms Bond moved to Wellington to work as an assistant to NZ First MPs Richard Prosser and Mahesh Bindra.

She is also past president of the New Zealand Association of Registered Hairdressers.

Tonight, Ms Bond, who is of Maori and Scottish descent, said that despite her tough upbringing she loved her parents.

"I understand and forgave them that they did not have the skills needed to be prepared as parents...I am very proud of the love that they share for us now."

She paid tribute to her extended whanau, including her hardworking grandparents, and six relations who had also been MPs.

"I am fortunate to have had whanau who are great leaders, who inspired me throughout my life to make a difference."

After living in Palmerston North and Christchurch, Ms Bond's family moved to Invercargill when she was 14.

"[This] was where my grandfather...a fourth generation Southlander, gloated that he was a great grandson of Thomas Crapper, who invented the flush toilet."

Ms Bond, who is a single mother to a 20-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter, said attending Southland Girls High School was crucial to her development, and "softened my hardened exterior".

Her father wanted her to join the Navy, so for three years and while still at school Ms Bond hid the fact she was also studying hairdressing.

"It wasn't until I was 20 years old and the cake at my engagement party had a pair of scissors on it that it dawned on dad I had not listened to him.

"I'm really proud that I am a hairdresser, and I'm proud that other young hairdressers look up to me for inspiration, so that if they have a dream they too know that they can be very successful in achieving it."

Members in the house rose in applause at the close of Ms Bond's speech, while supporters in the public gallery sang.