Labour MP Kiri Allan returns to work, three months after shock cervical cancer diagnosis

The MP was diagnosed with cancer in April.
The MP was diagnosed with cancer in April. Photo credit: Facebook/Getty

Labour MP Kiri Allan has returned to work in Parliament for the first time since her cancer diagnosis in April.

Allan posted on social media on Sunday evening confirming she would be returning to the Beehive on Monday, thanks to her cancer treatments going well. 

"My medical team were very pleased with how the treatment went - with some follow up appointments to be had (as is with this journey) - meaning I'm now ready to get back into work."

While she has been cleared to return to work, Allan will not be stepping back into all her roles immediately.

"My friend and Cabinet colleague Kris Faafoi will retain the Emergency Management portfolio (given it's a 24/7 on-call job!) and we will reassess those responsibilities as I step back into work," Allan wrote. 

She will return to work on Monday as the Minister for Conservation and the Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage. 

Allan revealed in April she was being biopsied for cancer the same day she oversaw a massive Civil Defence response following a slew of large earthquakes off the coast of New Zealand which led to a tsunami threat and massive evacuations for the East Coast - which she's the MP for. 

"I found myself managing the earthquakes early morning, then headed the hospital for another ultrasound at about 8am (just before the large evacuation notice - poor timing!). This was a longer ultra scan than the previous day and they took a number of smears and biopsies as well."

The following week, she was given the shocking diagnosis.

It's been three months of intense treatment for Allan, who has shared the entire journey on social media in an effort to raises awareness for cervical cancer.

The MP championed the late Talei Morrison's 'SmearYour Mea' campaign, encouraging all other people with vaginas to make sure they were up to date with their smear tests.

"Please, please, please," the MP pleaded in a post on social media.

"Encourage your sisters, your mothers, your daughters, your friends - please #SmearYourMea - it may save your life - and we need you right here."