Senior National MP Judith Collins is the first out the gate to announce her candidacy for party leadership.
Judith Collins announced her candidacy for the leader of the National Party on Twitter this morning. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
She tweeted her intentions only moments before going live-to-air on Morning Report, where she told Guyon Espiner she believed the opposition needed a leader who could operate in a way that would bring about a lot of stress on the government.
I’m announcing my candidacy for Leader of the NZ National Party. We’re going to need strong & decisive leadership if we’re going to win in 2020. I’m that person.
— Judith Collins (@JudithCollinsMP) February 13, 2018
"I intend to be here for the ballot. I'm not messing around. Not tiddlywinks. This is the toughest game in town ...
"We need the strongest, most decisive leader," she said.
Of course, Ms Collins bid immediately inspired a lot of social media commentary. Some good, some bad, and some ugly.
Some liked Ms Collins' chances of becoming the next National Party leader.
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to realise early on, and deep down in your gut, that Judith Collins will win the leadership battle. Don't waste your energy thinking it'll be anybody else. It won't be.
— Rachel Stewart (@RFStew) February 13, 2018
Every other Chinese person I know supports you. We need someone who isn't afraid to speak the truth and can win. ✌️
— Bevan Chuang (@MsBevanChuang) February 13, 2018
Others wished her best of luck.
Good Luck Crusher. You need to kick asses & take names. You'd be the ideal leader now to lead the Nats to victory next election. Many have had enough of Miss Nancy Pants Adern already.
— Brian (@BeepeeNZ) February 13, 2018
But not everyone was positive about Ms Collins throwing her hat into the ring.
@NZMorningReport about Judith Collins represents me, or anyone I know. She doesn't represent NZ or our interests, she represents the rich & businesses.
— Julia (@LaTulipNera) February 13, 2018
There was also a degree of sarcasm about the announcement from some.
Now that Judith Collins is running for Nat leader will she unblock us all so that she can troll for support?
— caniwi (@caniwi_nz) February 13, 2018
And even some commentary.
“Politics is like a business” — @JudithCollinsMP
— Thomas Le Bas (@thomaslebas) February 13, 2018
The neoliberalism is strong in this one.
Judith Collins opens her leadership campaign by accusing the government of “virtue signalling”, which I guess is a cultural marker in itself.
— Russell Brown (@publicaddress) February 13, 2018
Others refused to take the whole thing seriously.
Here we go. #nzpol pic.twitter.com/KbDETXabB2
— Troy Rawhiti-Forbes (@TroyRF) February 13, 2018
