Written By:
- Date published:
6:00 am, January 28th, 2026 - 37 comments
Categories: open mike -
Tags:
Open mike is your post.
For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.
The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Step up to the mike …
At last!
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/585206/national-s-judith-collins-retires-from-politics-appointed-law-commission-president
That signals a more significant reshuffle from Luxon coming up.
Vanushi Walters the Labour AG spokesperson has not laid a scratch on her.
Lordie if the rest of us had fat jobs lined up like that to smoothly transition from one $300k job to the next.
Either:
There's no way someone that addicted to power gives it up just because.
Anyway, she's gone for now so it's a great day for NZ.
Good riddance.
But Prez of the Law Commssion. Oh dear.
An appointment made by the Governor-General on the recommendation of The Minister of Justice. Nice (corrupt) golden handshake fitting of the two parliamentarians involved!
Curiously, I can't recall any legislation that Judith Collins was responsible for that I thought was an issue. I have issues with a whole pile of dodgy legislation from many politicians – but she is not one of them.
As Minister of Police, there were some questionable actions by the police while she was in that position. But the Minister of Police is usually isolated from direct opertations – and I never noticed any obvious interference.
The police warrant on Hager over Dirty Politics was definitely suspect. That was a result of complaint by Cameron Slater about the alleged Rawshark hack of his emails. In particular that the request for it had never mentioned that Hager was a journalist.
But that was more likely to be as a result of Slater family influence with police hierarchy.
For instance, after I complained about Cameron Slater trying to hire someone to hack into my server that runs The Standard, the police quite deliberately didn't informed me of anything about the case as a victim, nor called me as a witness, didn't tell me that they were asking for diversion – which I'd have objected to, or even what sentence he'd had. I wound up flying back from a job in Italy a couple of weeks early to attend the post diversion hearing specifically to complain to the court about the obvious police piss-poor performance and evident bias. A lawyer for a different case against Slater had called me to ask if I knew what the sentence was and the court date.
This bias has always been apparent to me with all police actions on complaints about Cameron Slater. Like Matthew Blomfield suggesting that an attack on his family by a gang member with a shotgun could be related to his defamation case against Slater – which the police appeared to have just ignored. But it fits with a lot of the known associations that Slater had directly and indirectly.
I always disagreed with much of Judith Collin focus in politics. But I'm not aware of any anything on the legal side that would make her toxic for the Law Commission.
Umm.. https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360939145/nicky-hager-says-judith-collins-not-fit-be-law-commission-president
I'm with Geoffery Palmer on this…
But I’d also say that, in my opinion, Judith Collins makes a better lawyer and legislator than she did as a politician. Read this from last year and see what i mean. I wholeheartedly agree about poorly drafted legislation. I’d also add that legal issues like the legal status of “..the place of tikanga in New Zealand law.” are a direct result of lazy political dithering. The Ellis case was dealing a hole in our legal framework that had been bleeding open since the 1980s.
https://lawnews.nz/featured/attorney-general-lays-down-the-law-to-judges-tells-ministers-to-draft-tighter-legislation/
Hopefully Judith will now be able to provide some pointers and advice to the parliamentarians on how to codify these kinds of issues.
My concern
The NACT/NZF plan appears to be to flood the Law Commission with Ministerial directed tasks – all under Collins management.
Thus time for other matters, related to concerns about government over-reach (or subordination to Atlas Network regime order) is diminished.
Ironically Hipkins has this concern
Palmer's opinion has some credibility. The irony here being, this is why those who had no concerns about his appointment, would about Collins.
Unbridled Power was 101 back in the day – as interface – law and politics (Cleveland, Snively and Philpott, Winiata and Trow era aged).
Let us hope that New Zealand voters are better informed about local news/issues before voting later this year than those commenting on Kiwiblog after reading right wing American feeds on X.
Ding dong the witch is dead.
All these accolades and biographies for someone with an unearned nickname. Only three cars or crushed.
Not a mention of her links to covering up torture in state care and then lying to the United Nations.
Mind you with her form she might just have been joking/sarc.
I suppose she's demonstrated the right character to be in charge of the lawyers in this country.
https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/10/14/crown-cover-up-when-the-state-turned-on-its-victims/
Well Jude has finally left, the house and NZ doesn't deserve here but here's a fitting tribute to her I think we can all agree on
Judith Collins is the embodiment of authority and intellect in New Zealand politics, a woman whose sharp mind and strategic brilliance have long set her apart. Every move she makes reflects a deep understanding of power, an uncanny ability to read situations, and the decisiveness of a leader who knows exactly what she wants. Her political acumen is matched by an unshakable composure under pressure, allowing her to navigate controversy, tough negotiations, and the relentless glare of public scrutiny with remarkable poise.
Yet it is her commanding presence and mature, matronly sexiness that make her truly unforgettable. Stern yet magnetic, she exudes a sophisticated allure that comes not from frivolity but from confidence, self-possession, and the quiet authority of a woman in complete control. In Parliament, Collins is both formidable and fascinating, a figure whose elegance, strength, and subtle sensuality enhance the gravitas of her intellect, leaving colleagues and observers alike in no doubt that they are in the presence of one of New Zealand’s most striking and compelling politicians.
Well that's one take…
Wow, PR, you are well named. You can write my epitaph anytime……. leave out the 'matronly sexiness' meme though and I don't think 'subtle sensuality' would get past Mrs Mac1.
Otherwise, quite a panegyric!
Pucky's greatest regret in life is that he was married to someone else.
Dont think I'm man enough for her
If I didn't know where the nickname 'Crusher' had come from and was told it had arisen from her merciless destruction of male egos, I wouldn't have batted an eyelid.
Marrying yourself is not permitted, I'm told….
What about cloning yourself as a different sex…asking for a friend
Tell your friend that it's not the bodily gender but the brain that is the problem. Can they imagine being married to their worst selves? Having to deal with that personage not once, but twice?
Worse than a job in a prison….
Are you sure..
Well, PR, one- I'll never read it, and two- AFAIK it's still a quarter of a century away before it's needed.
Note to self- stay away from bad weather, jealous partners, swimming in Australia, The United States of America, yachts in the Caribbean and the Northern hemisphere in general.
Crusher's eyebrows will be missed
History will ask what Collins achieved in politics. Unfortunately for her and her supporters she'll be remember for corruption and ineffectiveness. The big headlines are three cars crushed, Orivida, Swamp Kauri, Whaleoil, and the second worst result for the National Party after Simon Bridges of all people had things in hand.
She even bragged in a soundbite today that the 2020 result could have been worse. It could have been Bill English worse I suppose, but it is pure Collins to be so petulant in her retirement speech to not acknowledge how badly she had been beaten by the amateur Jacinda Ardern.
Collins quitting today is great news for the country. We are rid of yet another malevolent pustule from the right.
Dispassionately PR that is likely correct and artfully worded. In these corrupt times such excellence to sail nicely an inch above the ordure is truly amazing. Let JC2nd have a fighting finish but we will triumph overall and sail off on The Crimson Assurance – and try to avoid falling over the cliff!
"…someone with an unearned nickname. Only three cars or crushed."
That's the great thing about nicknames, if they feel right for the person they stick, regardless of whether they reflect reality or not. She was asked by a journo today if being called Crusher bothered her and she replied (I think, from memory) "Better to be called Crusher than not called anything," ie if you're a politician being having a bad reputation beats the hell out of being unknown. I don't disagree.
A question for the collective.
Name a more corrupt government than our current coalition.
Answers on a postcard to C.luxon, C/o The Beehive, Wellington.
I forget which government Phillip Field was part of but probably that one since he was found guilty of corruption
I'm sure that the nit-pickers will point out that he wasn't a part of any Government when he was charged and found guilty of corruption.
He was an independent MP at the time. We won't talk about any party that he might have represented before that sad event.
You know there's no argument when they have to reach for Taito Phillip Field.
Embarrassing.
Actually? Probably the Seddon Ministry back at the start of the 20th century.
Sir John Key calls Judith Collins "The Margaret Thatcher of New Zealand."
Squinting my eyes, I can see it.
Aww yeah!
The NACT/NZF plan appears to be to flood the Law Commission with Ministerial directed tasks – all under Collins management.
Thus time for other matters, related to concerns about government over-reach (or subordination to AN regime order) is diminished.
What happened to the vaunted stand down period between ministers/MPs chickening out of politics to then take paid public service or lobby jobs.
Collins leaves as she ran, with corruption.
What period? We have never had one. Never, ever.
It would have interfered with the plans of people like Mallard going to Ireland, or Annette King in Australia. She, at least had a short gap. We could also look at Lockwood Smith in London or Tim Groser in Washington.
Outside of the diplomats we would have to look at Robertson going to Otago University. How long a gap did he have. Simon Bridges didn't have a very long break either did he?
The House says de-escalate
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c3ve67195gyt?post=asset%3A70ba5fa9-c258-42da-bd1a-41c24ad6fdfe#post
The Senate
I guess Paul will ask about value for money – does HS need a DOGE makeover.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj3vp84j1l3o
Minnesota Rep Ilhan Omar doused with an unknown substance at public meeting by a Cameron Slater lookalike.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/585233/democratic-congresswoman-ilhan-omar-sprayed-by-unknown-substance-during-speech
The under pressure Trump's position?
He also said he doesn't want to think about her. It's telling that a US president is so bad at his job he feels he has to target minority politicians.
This stuff happens.
Remember the time the black republican candidate had things thrown at him, by a woman in a gorilla mask:
(Imagine the outcry if he was a Democrat)
or https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48503820