Judith Collins

Judith Collins, born on February twenty-four, nineteen fifty-nine, is a prominent New Zealand politician and lawyer. She has made significant contributions to the political landscape, serving as the Member of Parliament for Papakura since two thousand eight and previously for Clevedon from two thousand two to two thousand eight. Collins has held various ministerial roles, including attorney-general and minister of defence from November twenty-seven, twenty twenty-three, to April seven, twenty twenty-six.

Collins' academic journey began at Matamata College, followed by studies at the University of Canterbury and the University of Auckland. Before her political career, she excelled as a commercial lawyer, holding positions such as President of the Auckland District Law Society and Vice-President of the New Zealand Law Society. Her legal career spanned several firms from nineteen eighty-one to nineteen ninety, after which she operated her own practice for a decade.

Entering politics in two thousand two, Collins was appointed to the Cabinet by Prime Minister John Key after the National Party's victory in the two thousand eight election. She was the highest-ranked woman in the Cabinet, serving as minister of police and minister of corrections during her tenure. Despite facing challenges, including a resignation in August twenty fourteen due to email leaks, she returned to the Cabinet in twenty fifteen and continued to serve under Prime Minister Bill English.

After the National Party's defeat in the twenty seventeen election, Collins took on various shadow portfolios before being elected as the leader of the National Party on July fourteen, twenty twenty. As the second female leader of the party, she faced a challenging election in twenty twenty, leading to a significant loss. Her leadership ended on November twenty-five, twenty twenty-one, following a controversial demotion of a political rival.

Following the National Party's victory in the twenty twenty-three election, Collins was appointed to Cabinet, holding seven ministerial posts. As the longest continuously serving female MP, she is affectionately known as the Mother of the House. In January twenty twenty-six, she announced her appointment as president of the New Zealand Law Commission, marking a transition as she plans to retire from politics in mid-twenty twenty-six.