New Zealand’s Judith ‘Crusher’ Collins to quit politics
Judith Collins, a central player in New Zealand politics for more than a decade, is leaving parliament for a senior legal post.
The former National leader will resign ahead of the November 7 elections and become chairman of the Law Commission.
“The highs were high. The lows were very low,” he told reporters at a surprise news conference Wednesday.
“I feel like I’ve made my own breakthrough and it’s time for someone else to step in.”
The 66-year-old served as a minister in the governments of John Key, Bill English and Chris Luxon but stumbled in 2020 when he led the National party to election defeat.
She agreed that loss was a “hospital pass”, taking the reins after two leadership changes in three months, with her party unlikely to win with Jacinda Ardern’s Labor party at the peak of its pandemic-fighting powers.
“The 2020 election was pretty bad, but it could have been worse,” he said.
“My husband still tells me I shouldn’t do this. But the thing is, sometimes when you want to run away from him, you have to step forward.”
Ms Collins was appointed by Mr Luxon the following year, who then handed over her senior positions to the opposition and the government, including the current attorney general and defense ministries, after it won the 2023 election.
He described the 2025 defense capacity review, during which New Zealand will increase defense spending and coordinate with ally Australia, as one of his best moments.
“I spent about 14 months trying to achieve this… It was really important for me to work with the coalition partners and get a reasonable response from the opposition,” he said.
The Papakura MP, first elected in 2002, was stripped of his ministerial posts in 2014 over a conflict of interest with a Kiwi dairy exporter and collusion with a right-wing blogger over a series of attacks known as a “dirty politics” incident.
The tireless and divisive MP (nicknamed “Crusher” Collins for his interest in car-crashing politics) shrugged it off on Wednesday, saying it was unfair.
“What nonsense that was,” he said.
He published his political memoirs Pull No Punches in 2020 and suggested he might write another novel, perhaps a murder-mystery novel.
Ms Collins becomes the 12th MP to resign from this parliament, with a high turnover rate including Labor frontbenchers Grant Robertson, Andrew Little, Kelvin Davis and David Parker, as well as Greens leader James Shaw.
Mr Luxon is expected to announce a reshuffle involving Ms Collins’ portfolios in the coming weeks.
“It is with great regret and gratitude that I thank Judith for her service,” the Prime Minister said.
“He served this country with dedication and conviction.”
