I need to come clear about something: why I haven't been an active and engaged Leader of the National Party. And the reason is simple -- it's that my mental health has been in dire straits, ever since a concerted bullying campaign by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

When I came out and talked about occupying the centre, of planning to work with the government, what did they do? They came out and attacked me viciously in the press. They called me things that quite frankly dare not warrant repeating.

Now, that would be okay. But there were other incidents, incidents that were hidden from the public eye. For instance, as I was walking the halls of Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister Kate got in my face and started saying "you're white." I said "yes," and tried to get past, but she would step to the side to block me and say "little stinky whitey. White white white." After an hour of trying to get past, I was at the point of tears, begging her to let me past. She said "I'm Maori, which means this is my land, and if I don't want a whitey to pass, then a whitey won't pass."

At this point I said, "pass? As in, are you saying I don't pass?" as famously I am a transgender woman. Kate then said "yes I'm saying that you fucking hon."

Suffice to say, I have felt bullied, intimidated, and silenced. I have battled with thoughts of suicide and self-harm. Because this is a campaign of bullying. I cannot stay silent any longer though. There are millions of Kiwi battlers that want to simply have a good time, but are condemned to be bullied by the bullies on the left. That's what happened to me. And now I'm saying: enough is enough.

By the way, it's time to #BanTheBurqa