Judith 'Crusher' Collins, nicknamed so because of her threat to literally crush boy racers' cars, grew up a Labour supporter.
Background:
Born February 24, 1959, in Hamilton, Judith was the youngest of six children. She describes her upbringing in Walton, near Matamata, as "not wealthy" but "not poor".
"In a way we were privileged," she said at her maiden speech to Parliament in 2002. "We had two parents, discipline, responsibilities, plenty of love and more than anything else, we had security - a family in reality not just in name."
She chose to become a lawyer, but was told she couldn't because she was a "nice girl", which only made her more determined.
Judith studied at Canterbury and Auckland, earning masters degrees in law and taxation studies. While in Auckland she met her future husband David Wong Tung, a part-Samoan police officer.
They couple married in Hong Kong, and inspired by the "energy and vitality" of the locals, Judith decided to open a restaurant in addition to working her job at Simpson Grierson and completing her masters.
It was this experience she says turned her off Labour, after being treated like "the enemy" when dealing with union officials.
Career in politics:
Judith was elected to represent Clevedon in 2002, one of only 21 National candidates who won an electorate that year. She broke with convention by challenging sitting MP Warren Kyd for the nomination, effectively ending his political career (future Prime Minister John Key unseated four-term veteran Brian Neeson in a similar manner that same year).
By 2005, she'd rocketed up the party's list, from 48th to 12th, performing well in the various roles she'd taken on, including spokesperson for social welfare, Pacific Island affairs, tourism and internal affairs.
In 2008 Clevedon was split into Hunua, Botany and Papakura, the latter of which Judith won by over 10,000 votes. Her 7th ranking in the National list – the highest-ranked woman – ensured her a place in Parliament regardless.
She was named Minister of Police, Corrections and Veterans' Affairs.
As her nickname reflects, Judith's best known for her tough stance on boy racers and her novel solution to the problem – crushing their cars.
Notable actions:
Had her Vehicle Confiscation and Seizure Bill passed into law in 2009, which allows the crushing of cars belonging to persistent 'boy racer' type offenders.
Banned smoking in prisons, which according to reports is going a lot smoother than some expected.
What you might not know:
Since the Vehicle Confiscation and Seizure Bill passed in October 2009, still no cars have been crushed. In August, 17 people were on their second strike. But Judith says, "if one of them wants to pop their hand up and get the stupid sticker and get their car crushed, we will be happy to oblige".
Heroes and idols:
"My late parents and the many New Zealanders who put their lives on the line everyday to keep us safe." (Judith's father was a veteran of World War II who fought in Alamein and Cassino.)
Quote:
"Look girls, if you're going to have your top down low, make sure your skirt goes down low too." – out on the town with frontline police and 3 News in March 2011.
Gaffes and blunders:
After the February, 2011 quake in Christchurch, Judith said she hoped suspected looters "go to jail for a long time - with a cellmate". Some critics thought the implied approval of prison rape as punishment was inappropriate coming from the Minister of Police and Corrections, particularly when it emerged one of the looters, Arie Smith-Voorkamp, had Asperger's Syndrome. She refused to apologise, rejecting accusations she had implied anything of the sort.
In May 2011 it emerged that Judith was spending $220 a week on her taxpayer-funded car for private use. She refused to comment, except to say it was "within the rules". Other ministers, like Wayne Mapp and Steven Joyce had spent only a couple of hundred dollars each in 18 months.
In a sentence:
Judith Collins says she is a "hardworking, capable, firm but fair Member of Parliament who stands up for what she believes in and represents the people of the Papakura electorate with commitment and courage", and it would be a brave opponent who dares to disagree with the 'Crusher'.
source: newshub archive
