How well do we really know our politicians and the personal values and experiences they bring to decisions that affect us all?
Newshub Nation's Backstory series goes behind the scenes into our political leaders' lives and childhood photo albums.
Labour MP Jo Luxton was born in Rotorua where her father worked on a farm.
Her family moved around during her childhood, spending time in Whakatāne, Paeroa, and then settling in Gisborne.
Luxton spent time as a single parent.
"I was on the DPB, which is now the sole parent benefit," while she worked at a local playcentre.
She described it as "really tough".
"It was a tough time financially, we had to use the food bank and things like that."
Luxton recalled going into Work and Income when her first marriage ended and asking for some support and help.
"The woman there at the time pretty much just laughed at me and said 'we're not a bank, what do you expect from us?'
"I'll never ever forget that, I just felt so humiliated," she said.
However, it was a very formative experience for Luxton.
"I've reflected on how that felt, and how I was, and how other things in my life, like having my Down Syndrome sister Teresa, makes me see things a little more broadly."
Luxton said she dosnt jump to conclusions about people because "who the hell am I to judge?"
She became Teresa Thompson's guardian, moving her to Ashburton a few years ago when their mother became unwell, and the two are very close.
Thompson collects photos of her sister from the newspaper and lovingly described her as "famous".
Luxton has three children of her own and two stepchildren in her blended family.
She is grateful that the children from her past marriage got on so well with her stepchildren.
Her husband has been a calming influence and she credits him for making her "more relaxed and less impatient about things".
"He's hugely supportive of what I do."
They live in Hinds, Canterbury
Watch her full Backstory for more.
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