Neil Sands
Attorney-General Judith Collins KC announced on Wednesday that she will retire from politics later this year to take up a new role as President of the Law Commission, ending a career in Parliament spanning 24 years and numerous portfolios.
“The highs have been high, the lows have been very low,” Collins told reporters.
“Through it all, I’ve been able to do what I do because of the unwavering support of my husband David and my son James.”
Collins was elected to Parliament in 2002 and first served in Cabinet in 2008, holding the portfolios of corrections and police. The latter earned her the nickname “Crusher” due to legislation she introduced allowing the destruction of boy racers’ cars.
She told reporters that over the past 24 years she had overseen 18 portfolios, “some of them twice”. In this term alone, Prime Minster Christopher Luxon assigning her seven areas of ministerial responsibility, ranging from Minister for Space to Minister for Digitising Government.
“I want to thank the Prime Minister for his trust in me and for trusting me just to get on and do my job,” she said.
Luxon praised Collins for her commitment and conviction, saying she “fronted some of the most difficult challenges without flinching”.
“Working alongside Judith over the past six years, I have seen first-hand her deep commitment to New Zealand, her loyalty to our team and her unshakeable belief in standing up for what she thinks is right,” he said.
Among the lows that Collins referred to was a stint as opposition leader in 2020-21, which included leading her party against a Jacinda Ardern-led Labour Party that secured a landslide victory on the back of its early response to covid-19.
Attorney-General Judith Collins KC and The Law Association President Tony Herring
With characteristic resilience, she bounced back and is currently Parliament’s longest-serving female MP.
Collins has been outspoken as Attorney-General, warning against courtroom bullies and protecting comity between the judiciary and executive government, even when it has meant reprimanding ministerial colleagues for criticising judges.
She has also championed black-letter law when making judicial appointments, an approach that is likely to continue in her new role with the Law Commission.
She said her background in Parliament would also be an asset at the commission.
“You understand how government has to work, how Parliament has to work, how for lasting change you need to get the opposition on board. You’ve got to be able to compromise, all those sorts of things.
“I’m really excited about it. I’m just so looking forward to it.”
Collins will leave her job mid-year, which will be close enough to the November 7 election not to trigger a by-election in her seat of Papakura.
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