Donald Trump's nomination as the American ambassador to New Zealand, Scott Brown, has described his rough upbringing.

Mr Brown says his parents divorced a year after marrying and have each been married and divorced four times since.

He said by the age of 18 he'd lived in 17 homes and he had to cope with "a lot of turmoil" and remembers his mother struggling financially.

"Drunken stepfathers, a lot of physical abuse in the family, I had to come and rescue Mom and my sister a lot and I really think that made me who I am today."

He said he knows what it's like to be "the underdog" and brings a strong set of family values to his political work.

WATCH: Scott Brown introduces himself to New Zealand