Ex-National leader Judith Collins wrote the opening lines of her party leadership epitaph when she suddenly demoted rival Simon Bridges during the week, having accused him of "serious misconduct" at a party event five years ago.
The backlash against the former opposition leader, who had endured months of poor polling, was swift, with a crisis caucus meeting quickly turning into a vote of no confidence that sealed Collins' fate. The hasty departure ended a 499-day tenure that saw the Papakura MP constantly struggle for relevance.
The new National leader will be selected on Tuesday, and will be the party's fourth in less than two years.
Richard Harman is the editor of the Politik website and a former Chief TVNZ Political Correspondent. He's with us to look at 'Crusher' Collins' crash and burn, and what the National party needs to do now to bounce back.
