Well wishes across political spectrum as Judith Collins resigns

The resignation of Judith Collins from Parliament has prompted well wishes and tributes from colleagues across the political spectrum.

The former National leader, who remains a minister with seven portfolios until her departure to take the helm as president of the Law Commission, announced her decision to quit Parliament on Wednesday.

Heading into the debating chamber in the afternoon, she told reporters she had received many well wishes but did not want to put them all out into the public.

"But Barbara Edmonds was very kind in the media, and she was someone who worked in my office when I was Minister of Revenue and she was in the public service and I never knew what her politics were, just got on and did the job ... outstanding ministerial private secretary and she's an example of what the public service should be like - I shouldn't know anyone's politics and that's the same as what I'll be doing."

Speaking in Parliament later in the afternoon, Edmonds paid tribute to her former boss.

"I want to acknowledge her decision today. I learnt a lot from Judith Collins, I also learnt things not to do ... but in Samoa and this is an acknowledgment of her husband David as well, we have a particular value called teu le va - it means to look after the space and to cultivate the space; the space between people, the relationships between land, maunga and all things within this universe.

"Judith quite rightly said it in her media standup today that we don't have to agree on everything as people to get along. That is a very important value which I think most Kiwis within New Zealand absolutely should hold on to.

"Because, in a time of misinformation and a time of spin and of soundbites, we have to remember that teu la va - those face-to-face relationships - are more important than what you read on social media."

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Collins was a personal friend and had been for a long time.

"I've seen Judith and I know she's got a great intellect, she's got a great sense of humour, but most important she's cared a lot for our people and our staff," he said.

"She's done an exceptionally good job, her and I have talked about it for some time, the great news is that she's going to take on an awesome job that she's eminently qualified to do."

Luxon said he did not know when Collins first raised with him the prospect of stepping down.

"Some time ago, maybe over a year ago, and she said to me 'look I think this might be my last time in Parliament, I said 'look, thanks'. Her and I have got a very good friendship and a good relationship as we've talked about it quite openly."

Labour's leader Chris Hipkins said he wished her all the best.

"She's a worthy adversary. Her and I have exchanged plenty of barbs across the debating chamber over the years, but I do wish her well for the future.

"I think as Jim Bolger's son said at his funeral just a few months ago the best way to be popular in New Zealand politics right now is to be dead, probably the second-best way to be popular is to announce that you're leaving."

Finance Minister Nicola Willis said Collins would be missed at Parliament, and had been a source of emotional support - particularly for young women entering politics.

"I know that she would be the first to say she is not retiring - the force that is Judith Collins will continue to contribute to public life," Willis said.

"She is someone who has represented her values and her views with conviction. I think a side the public haven't seen of her is the immense amount of emotional support she has provided to caucus colleagues along the years.

"She's often been the first to give me a call and say 'well, I think that would have been tough today' and 'here's how I handle that sort of thing' and she's done that with a level of vulnerability that I've really appreciated, acknowledging that public life isn't always easy and sharing her experience that actually the scars on your back make you tougher, and make you better in the job that you're doing."

The Green Party's co-leaders echoed that sentiment.

"I was thinking about when I had my first day in the House ever," Davidson recalled, "and she came straight out to say to me 'well, you're taking to this job like a duck to water', so I will always fondly treasure those words.

"There's no denying she's a tough one. There's absolutely no denying that and I guess to survive this place for so long says something."

Swarbrick said they may have had political disagreements, "but the one thing that I can definitely say is that she always on a personal level was looking out for the women of every party here".

ACT leader David Seymour said it was a shame to see Collins' departure.

"I think Judith is a genuinely warm-hearted person with her heart in the right place."

He agreed her absence would a loss to Cabinet.

"She's a talented and experienced minister but no sentence is for life and she's going to use her freedom, so good on her.

His MP Todd Stephenson would, Seymour suggested, be "an excellent Attorney-General, it would get him away from the Arts and Theatre beat, and, ah, good for everybody".

NZ First leader Winston Peters said he had wished her all the very best.

"We've been respectful friends," he said. "Judith's a lawyer and so am I - legacy's what you have in wills.

"She's got seven portfolios and maybe if the prime minister wants some action maybe he should put me in charge of those as well. I fixed up railways, I fixed up the dogs, and I've fixed up foreign affairs big-time, haven't I."

Trade Minister Todd McClay said Collins - affectionately known as "crusher" thanks to a policy of destroying boy racers' cars if they were caught speeding, was "good at crushing the cars, but she's anything but a crusher".

"In the early days as a young MP she was quite formidable and her reputation certainly was something as a new fresh backbench MP I thought a lot about, but she was very very supportive to everybody in caucus, would always give time to be able to talk to her.

"I think over the time she's been in Parliament she can be proud of many many achievements, but the way she's mentored young MPs and helped them in their careers sometimes when they've found it challenging is something she should be most proud of."

Health Minister Simeon Brown was another who was thankful for Collins' support.

"She's been a great friend. She's been a great supporter of mine over the years, right from the time that I entered politics - actually before that. She's been an incredibly hard-working National Party minister across two governments and delivered a lot for this country, so I wish her all the best as she goes to her new role."

Shane Reti, who succeeded Collins as Science, Innovation and Technology Minister, pointed to her resilience.

"She makes lemonade out of lemons. I have no doubt she would have done that if she was fortunate enough to be prime minister as well," he said.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell - whose role Collins held twice in John Key's government - praised her record of "incredible public service" not only in her 18 portfolios but as a local MP for Papakura.

"Just want to acknowledge that and wish her all the best in her future role which I'm sure she'll be outstanding at."

Labour questions Collins' move to Law Commission

Hipkins was, however, less optimistic about Collins' coming appointment, saying it could risk tinging what was meant to be an independent body with perceptions of political bias.

While routine reviews of current law would be unaffected, he said the referral of more contentious questions for an impartial view was less likely to happen.

"Take hate speech for example, I can't imagine the Law Commission being asked to look at that when you've got someone so clearly political on those issues in charge," Hipkins said.

"The only other politician that's served in that role previously was the Right Honorable Sir Geoffrey Palmer and that was I think about 20 years after he left politics and was a distinguished law professor."

Swarbrick agreed there were questions to be answered on whether Collins' appointment so soon after leaving politics was appropriate.

Collins however was adamant she would have no trouble, pointing to her record playing a straight bat as Attorney-General.

"I think it's really important to understand that every government sets the agenda for the Law Commission ... I'm a laywer, we're taught to argue any side that there is and particularly for our customers and our clients, so I'll be perfectly fine."

She said Palmer had been aware of how politics worked and when he was in the role that experience had been invaluable, even when National was in power, and she was confident Hipkins would agree after talking it over with Edmonds.

Luxon said Collins was "eminently qualified" for the role.

"She has a deep, storied career in law and she'll be brilliant in the job."

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