Nick was born in North Canterbury, educated at Rangiora High School, Wilmington Friends in the USA as an AFS student and at the University of Canterbury where he received a 1st Class Honours Degree in Civil Engineering in and graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy for his Thesis  on “The Residual Strength of Soils and Landslide Stability”.

He first stood for public office in Rangiora in 1983 unsuccessfully but was elected in 1986 to the Rangiora Borough Council. He was selected as the National Party Candidate for the seat of Tasman in 1989, and subsequently won it in the 1990 General Election and again in 1993. The Tasman Electorate was divided between the West Coast and Nelson electorates in the MMP reform for the 1996 General Election and Nick chose to contest the nelson seat against the sitting Labour MP. He won it and subsequently held it at the 1999, 2002. 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2020 elections.

He lost the Nelson seat at the 2020 General Election, and although elected as a List MP, did not like the role and decided to retire from parliament in 2021.

Nick served as a Government Minister in the Cabinets of Prime Ministers Jim Bolger, Jenny Shipley, John Key and Bill English. Portfolios he held included Conservation, Education, Environment, Local Government, Climate Change, Immigration, ACC, Building, Housing, Social Welfare, Construction, Corrections and Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations during which time he was responsible for the passage of 45 Acts of Parliament and 426 regulations. He played a key role in establishing the Kahunangi National Park, 17 Marine Reserves and was the lead Minister in setting up the Environment Protection Authority and the Emissions Trading Scheme. Nick was also the co-founder with Sir Rob Fenwick of the Bluegreens in 1998.

Nick rejoined the family crane and construction business in 2021 following his retirement from politics, was the Contractors Representative for the Turitea Windfarm and a company director. He continues as a Member of the Advisory Board of the Smithbridge Group.

Particular projects in Nelson that Nick has championed over his time as a parliamentarian include the Stoke Bypass, Garrin College, the Early Settlers Memorial, the Waimea Community Dam, the Brook Waimarama-Brook Sanctuary and the Horoirangi Marine Reserve. Nick is also a Trustee of Network Tasman and the Cawthron Institute.