Nicola Willis had an interesting road to Parliament - after spending over a decade as a staffer to different members of the National Party, she very nearly got into Parliament in 2017 before the final results saw her just miss out. Coming in a few months later off the back of several resignations, Willis has skyrocketed to the top, becoming Deputy Leader at the end of 2021 - and now holding the prime finance portfolio her once boss Bill English used to hold.

So is she gearing up to potentially be the country's next Finance Minister? This week, Thomas talks to Willis about her time as staffer, her interest in social investment, housing and finance, her liberal views versus the rest of the National Party, and the departing advice Simon Bridges gave her.

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Episode 18: Nicola Willis on going from staffer to National deputy leader