After a hectic few months, Parliament has wrapped up for the year and politicians will be taking a well-earned break.
We asked them a few essential questions: What are they doing during the break, who's their New Zealander of the year and, crucially, which Beyonce song will they dance to?
Jacinda Ardern (Prime Minister)
What are your Christmas plans?
I'll be in Gisborne for Christmas, with both my family and Clarke's, and I imagine a few of my security detail. They can join the party.
Clarke and I will also be spending some time together on the Sunshine Coast.
What family traditions take place?
My sister Louise and I have always made marshmallow balls at Christmas. We still do, even though we're on opposite sides of the world and neither of us really eats them anymore.
Who's your New Zealander of the year?
My New Zealander of the year would have to be Kristine Bartlett - long-time care worker, equal pay campaigner and all-round fabulous person.
Which Beyonce song will you dance to on New Year's Eve?
That would have to be 'Run the World'.
Bill English (Leader of the Opposition)
What are your Christmas plans?
We'll have the family around at our place on Christmas Day. We will spend time in January on Stewart Island and at Dipton.
What family traditions take place?
We always have Christmas with the larger family, so one of the things that we do is have a breakfast on Christmas day just with our kids. I do the bacon and eggs.
Who is your New Zealander of the year?
Peter Beck - for taking New Zealand to space.
Which Beyonce song will you dance to on New Year's Eve?
The kids are in charge of the music, but everyone is better off when I don't dance.
Shane Jones (NZ First, Minister Forestry, Infrastructure, Regional Development, Associate Min Transport, Finance)
What are your Christmas plans?
Kaimoana, hangi, red wine, pōhutukawa trees, '10 Guitars'.
What family traditions take place?
Sharing gifts, a mega feast and karakia.
Who's your New Zealander of the year?
The ultimate survivor, the Rt Hon Winston Peters.
Which Beyonce song will you dance to on New Year's Eve?
'Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)'.
Ed's note: For context, Shane Jones is getting married in Rarotonga over the Christmas break.
James Shaw (Leader of the Green Party, Minister of Climate Change, Statistics)
What are your Christmas plans?
Annabel and I will spend Christmas with our folks and then head away to the beach for a couple of weeks with no TV, landline or internet.
What family traditions take place?
My folks and I are big fans of Christmas brunch: a mid-morning feast of OJ, bubbly & croissants followed by presents from under the Christmas tree, then naps.
Who's your New Zealander of the year?
Dr Jan Wright, who has retired as Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. She leaves a huge legacy of influence on Government policy and public understanding of environmental challenges the country faces.
Which Beyonce song will you dance to on New Year's Eve?
'Run the World'.
Paula Bennett (Deputy leader of the Opposition)
What are your Christmas plans?
I’ll be going fishing with my family and going to the tennis.
What family traditions take place?
We've been swapping the same four gifts for the last 20 years. I really hope I don't get the airater lawn shoes.
Christmas day will be at my place. It's pretty special, cause the youngest guest is two-and-a-half and the oldest is my 82-year-old dad - so the ages span 80 years.
Who's your New Zealander of the year?
Tom Sainsbury.
Which Beyonce song will you dance to on New Year's Eve?
I don't think Beyonce is on the playlist, but 'It's Raining Men' definitely is.
Grant Robertson (Minister Finance, Sport, Associate Minister Arts, Culture and Heritage)
What are your Christmas plans?
I will spend time with family on Christmas Day and then take a brief break in Australia.
What family traditions take place?
With lots of family overseas, lots of Skype calls are now the tradition. That, and over-eating and sleeping!
Who's your New Zealander of the year?
It is hard to go past Jacinda. She has stepped up to the biggest job in the land, and has done us all proud!
Which Beyonce song will you dance to on New Year's Eve?
It might not be Beyonce, but I will definitely stretch the legs to something to celebrate a great year. Merry Christmas.
David Seymour (ACT leader)
What are your Christmas plans?
I'll be up north where my Mum's family's from with that side of the family, at the beach making my one big catering effort of the year - a cedar plank salmon recipe that I picked up in Canada.
What traditions take place?
None at all, but I've got great admiration for people who can work all year and still have time to uphold traditions.
Who's your New Zealander of the year?
Mark Dunajtschik, twice. Once for his business success and again for giving $50m of it to build a children's hospital.
Which Beyonce song will you dance to on New Year's Eve?
I wouldn't be able to tell.
Steven Joyce (Spokesperson finance, infrastructure)
What are your Christmas plans?
I’m heading home for Christmas. After all the flying and racing around during the year, it’s good to shut the gate and just stop. I have a big garden, so that gets a bit of care and attention.
The family tend to gather at our place for Christmas, and this year we have a full muster - my parents and my three brothers and sister plus assorted partners.
What family traditions take place?
Not that many - it's all pretty cruisy. We tend to have Christmas lunch mid-afternoon. I make omelettes on Boxing Day morning. And there will probably be a table-tennis tournament in there somewhere. Much sibling rivalry.
Who's your New Zealander of the year?
My New Zealander of the year is probably Peter Burling. Stunning job lifting the America's Cup. I was in San Francisco in 2013 and saw how hard it was.
Which Beyonce song will you dance to on New Year's Eve?
None if I can help it, but my 10-year-old daughter might have other ideas.
Chlöe Swarbrick (Green Party spokesperson Education, Arts and Heritage, Tertiary Education, Small Business, Broadcasting, Youth, Local Government and Internal Affairs)
What are your Christmas plans?
I'm hanging out with family from all over New Zealand in Hamilton, then heading back to Auckland to catch up with more.
What family traditions take place?
For my family, it's food. There's not much order to it beyond everybody around the BBQ, kitchen, and dining table.
Who's your New Zealander of the year?
Taika Waititi.
Which Beyonce song will you dance to on New Year's Eve?
I’m not much of a dancer, but if we're talking Queen B, one can't overlook a terrible rendition of the 'Single Ladies' routine.
Kelvin Davis (Deputy leader of Labour, Minister for Crown/Māori Relations, Corrections and Tourism, Associate Minister of Education)
What are your Christmas plans?
Spending time with the whānau and getting to the beach and into the bush.
What family traditions take place?
Scorched Almonds, it's not Christmas without them.
Who's your New Zealander of the year?
Portia Woodman. She was instrumental in getting the Black Ferns their World Cup victory. And she's from up north.
Which Beyonce song will you dance to on New Year's Eve?
Does she sing '10 Guitars'?
Winston Peters (Deputy Prime Minister)
What are your Christmas plans?
To spend some private time with family.
What traditions take place?
The usual Christmas with food and presents.
Who's your New Zealander of the year?
There are many of them, but at this time of year I think of those working in essential services and all the medical staff in our hospitals.
Which Beyonce song will you dance to on New Year's Eve?
'Halo'.
Andrew Little (Minister of Justice, for Courts, and Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, GCSB, NZSIS, and Pike River Re-entry)
What are your Christmas plans?
New Plymouth with family and our dog Harry. I'm hoping to do the Pouakai Crossing.
What family traditions take place?
We always do a big extended family get together and eat way too much on Christmas Eve.
Who's your New Zealander of the year?
Liam Malone. Jacinda Ardern is my politician of the year.
Which Beyonce song will you dance to on New Year's Eve?
'Survivor'.
Judith Collins (National Party spokesperson Revenue, Transport)
What are your Christmas plans?
I'm spending Christmas Day at home cooking Christmas dinner for my husband and son and my sister-in-law and her family. I will be hot smoking salmon fillets in my little smoker, cooking duck confit, steak and making salads. After New Year's, I will spend an inordinate amount of time watching the New Zealand Tennis Men's and Women's Tennis Open tournaments and thinking how easy the pros make it look.
I will try to spend as much time in Auckland as possible, as it's my favourite time of the year; a wonderful time to walk, get a carpark, a bargain and have lots of friends over. In amongst that I will take as many Pilates classes as I can to help work off the effects of the season.
In amongst all that, I will be working on some plans to hold the Government to account.
What family traditions take place?
I always make my world-famous cheesecake. My husband and son would divorce me if I didn't.
Who's your New Zealander of the year?
My 'New Zealander of the Year' Award goes to all the Kiwi parents who do their best for their children, who stay up with their children when they're scared or sick, who sacrifice for their children, who get them to school clean and fed, who are kind and supportive and constantly tell their kids how proud they are of them.
Which Beyonce song will you dance to on New Year's Eve?
'Crazy in Love'.
Newshub.
