Former minister Judith Collins’ journey back to political significance is one of the most interesting undercurrents of New Zealand politics right now. It would be surprising if there was a backbench MP in history who had as much influence as Collins does today.
Last year, Collins was forced to step down as a minister. Her punishment was a result of the latest in a series of public embarrassments, accusations of undermining Serious Fraud Office (SFO) Director, Adam Feeley.
Collins had already entered into political controversy twice in the year leading up to her resignation. First, for endorsing milk export company Orivida, of which her husband is a director. Collins had a dinner with Orivida bosses in Beijing while on a tax-funded trip in October 2013. Three days later, Orivida donated $30,000 to the National Party. The obvious conflict of interest was met with a final warning for Collins by the prime minister.
In 2014, Collins was trampled in the media once again. This time, however, she wasn’t alone.
In August 2014, Nicky Hager released a book called Dirty Politics. The book published a series of emails between right-wing blogger Cameron Slater and National staffer Jason Ede, as well as several other conversations of importance.
As highlighted in Dirty Politics, Collins was known as the “Crusher”. The nickname referred to her inclination to undermine, deceive and punish anyone who got in her way. However, this is a reputation that varies in reality, depending on who you talk to. Regardless, her connection to Slater was blatant and clear. Despite this, she managed to cling to her portfolios for the initial blow. This was only possible because John Key himself was being slammed over Dirty Politics, and sacking Collins then and there would have given credence to the book National so desperately wanted to distance itself from.
Unfortunately for Collins, the Dirty Politics emails would be her end, for the time anyway. The hacker responsible released many of the emails online in response to challenges from National to prove the allegations. One particular email, written by Slater, strongly suggested Collins was planning to undermine Feeley.
The email read: “I also spoke at length with the Minister responsible today (Judith Collins). She is gunning for Feeley.”
On August 30, Collins resigned, pending an inquiry.
National won the election with a landslide. All the controversies and scandals of election year were history. Collins was proven innocent of interfering with the SFO and it seemed she would be back in the inner circle now that the chips had fallen.
However, despite being exonerated, Collins was left outside in the cold. The prime minister exiled her to the backbenches.
For most electorate MPs, that would have been the end. They would have sat quietly until the next election, waiting to be told to step down and welcome in new blood.
The last six months have proven Collins is not most MPs.
Every Friday she appears on the Paul Henry Show in a two-part panel with deputy leader of the Labour Party, Annette King.
Take a moment to consider the significance of that. Annette King is the deputy leader and number two on the Labour Party list. She’s second in command of the opposition. Collins, on the other hand, doesn’t even place on the National Party list.
Collins’ presence in the media is a much larger feat than many would imagine. It’s true anyone can make a splash in the media, but how many MPs can do that when they aren’t responsible for anything?
Every aspect of central government is divided into ministerial portfolios. If something happens in a portfolio, the minister in charge leads any discussion in that area. This provides backbenchers with an almost impossible task, how to stay relevant without saying anything of importance. This is where Collins has defied odds.
While Collins dominates in the media, she still has a significant presence in the caucus. Most recently, Collins reportedly led a coup against the health and safety law reform in June, despite claims from the prime minister to the contrary. The bill was postponed as a result. The reported dissent in the National caucus was accompanied by claims that Michael Woodhouse, the minister in charge of the health and safety bill, was told to “sit down and shut up” in a caucus meeting by a certain backbench MP. Of course, I wouldn’t speculate as to who that could have been.
Needless to say, Collins is one of the most talented members of the National caucus and I would put my money on her returning to cabinet very soon. If there was someone to keep an eye on in New Zealand politics, it’s Judith Collins, aka the Crusher.