1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,280 Speaker 1: Election year has thrown up its biggest retirement to date 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: so far. Judith Collins, of course, is calling time. Twenty 3 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: four years, a lot of portfolios and a lot of 4 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: good stories to tell. Judith Collins, as with us, a 5 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:10,119 Speaker 1: very good morning to you. 6 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 2: Oh good morning mate. 7 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 1: I'm guessing there's been a lot of good will and 8 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: genuine appreciation for your contribution headed your way in the 9 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: last twenty four hours. 10 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 2: Yes, I've got to I've been somewhat overwhelmed, very pleased 11 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 2: and happy at the amount of goodwill that's come across, 12 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 2: not only from my own side of Parliament, but also 13 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 2: from the opposition as well. 14 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: Good the date and the election and the moment you decided. 15 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:41,199 Speaker 1: Is there a story behind any of that or not? 16 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:44,559 Speaker 2: No, I just really felt the last year or so 17 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 2: I thought this has been I mean, I've just so 18 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 2: enjoyed these portfolios I've had and really loved. This has 19 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 2: been my best term of parliament, and I thought, I 20 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 2: really want to go out on the high. Twenty four 21 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 2: years is quite a long time in parliament, do you know? 22 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 2: It's a goodness? Say Mike, I'm now the mother of 23 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 2: the House. I mean, it's like, you know, having one 24 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 2: hundred and twenty something naughty children. It's really difficult. So 25 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 2: I just really felt that it was time to go 26 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 2: twelve years in opposition twelve years in government. It's a 27 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 2: pretty good symmetry. 28 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: What was the plan in two thousand and two Visa 29 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: b staying around? 30 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 2: Oh, I thought twelve years would be really good. I 31 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,960 Speaker 2: thought there would be enough. But it is quite an 32 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:31,479 Speaker 2: addictive environment and I've always found it incredibly interesting work. 33 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 2: One of my secrets, and I say this to your MPs, 34 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:38,399 Speaker 2: is I've been fortranate to be able to change my 35 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 2: portfolios every three years or so, so I never get bored, 36 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 2: and I always think that there's lots of new things 37 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 2: to doing, lots of new people to see, places, places 38 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 2: to find out about. You keep yourself interested, and so 39 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 2: that's what I've been able to do. 40 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: Thoughts on an electorate in an MMP environment, as you 41 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: write through the ranks and have a fairly heavy workload 42 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: with portfolios, would you advise it or not? 43 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 2: Oh? Absolutely so. Having the electorate of Papricora, Clinton and 44 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 2: the Papacora has given me the absolute grounding to get 45 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 2: out there and do what I needed to do. So 46 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 2: it takes a lot more work, but it also keeps 47 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 2: you far more centered on actually who it is you're representing, 48 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 2: and stop to getting a bit too you know, thinking 49 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 2: that you're you know, you're above that sort of stuff, 50 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 2: worrying about people's you know, hit knee operations, helping their kids, 51 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 2: just the school of being bullied, that sort of thing, 52 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 2: immigration issues, all sorts of things that the local electric 53 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 2: MPs deal with. It keeps you really grounded. 54 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 1: How do you stop yourself being institutionalized? 55 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 2: I think try not to spend all your time with 56 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 2: other politicians. So I find that and I don't think 57 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 2: I've become institutionalized, but I do. Even even now, I 58 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 2: still find interesting things in Parliament I didn't know about. 59 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 2: I don't think understanding that most of the world doesn't 60 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 2: have the privileges that EMPs have, and understand being very 61 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 2: grateful every day. Three year elections do tend to make 62 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 2: you really grateful to Frank, you're up for a job, 63 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 2: and to view every three years. 64 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:29,640 Speaker 1: As a lawyer, and you did the Attorney General all 65 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: that sort of thing. I think I've never seen you 66 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:33,799 Speaker 1: more as excited as excited as you are at the 67 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: moment with defense and tech and space and all that 68 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: sort of stuff. Is that fair? 69 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 2: Yeah? I love them all, and I think I've always 70 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 2: tried to say, whatever portfolio you get, do the best 71 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 2: you can and absolutely love from day one, because then 72 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 2: you'll get the best out of it and you will 73 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 2: enjoy it most. But the science and tech areas were 74 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 2: just fabulous in the space, but also in a defense 75 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 2: so critical these days. It's also good for hour in 76 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 2: New Zealand economy. And I know I'm an Attorney general 77 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 2: as well. It's like coming home doing being the Attorney General. 78 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 2: It's wonderful. 79 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: The leader the leadership thing that so many people obviously 80 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: focused on yesterday, how much of leadership and its success 81 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: is about sheer talent versus when you happen to turn 82 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 1: up and timing is everything. 83 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 2: I think as in terms of leadership of parties, well, 84 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 2: it's very much on you get some people's shear talent 85 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:36,039 Speaker 2: and are obviously going to become the leader. And I 86 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 2: saw that with Christopher Latson when he came in, clearly 87 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 2: was going to be the leader and obviously the right 88 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,479 Speaker 2: person for the job. But you also so much of 89 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:52,039 Speaker 2: it is about hard work, and talent is one thing 90 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,599 Speaker 2: make but turning up every day, giving it your best. 91 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 2: That's what makes you a leader. 92 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 1: I wonder to see. I'm a believer in that very thing. 93 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 1: Hard work is the key to basically everything. Do you 94 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: think time and experience leads you to that inevitable conclusion? 95 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:08,919 Speaker 1: And some of the younger members don't quite get that. 96 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it's true. You've got to. It's not 97 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 2: just turning up being there. It's hard work. Nothing beats 98 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:23,160 Speaker 2: hard work. And you can have you see, you will 99 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 2: have seen this over the years. People with all the 100 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 2: talent in the world, but they can't make the time 101 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 2: to turn up for work on time, or they can't 102 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:34,800 Speaker 2: be fast during the reading before an interview or something, 103 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:38,920 Speaker 2: and they fail. They eventually fail. Talent will get you 104 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 2: so far. Hard work will keep you there. 105 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: How do you explain so I take it your comments 106 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 1: aboutluckson a moment ago are not political because it's election 107 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: to you. How do you explain luxon the luxon you know, 108 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: to the lux and the public see and the pole 109 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: numbers that you will have read like all of us, 110 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 1: Why the disconnect? 111 00:05:56,279 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 2: Well, he know, one on one as a very genuine 112 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 2: decent person and I have found him very good to 113 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 2: work with. But then again I found previous leaders or 114 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:15,600 Speaker 2: good in their ways. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses obviously, 115 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 2: and you know I can be very forthright, as you 116 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 2: probably know, so not everyone can cope with that as 117 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 2: well as he does. But I think with him, it's 118 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 2: just the fact that he needs to get out and 119 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:35,280 Speaker 2: see people. He saw him at not mongability with people, 120 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 2: just being a human being, and I think that's what 121 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 2: people want to see in him, and I think that's 122 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 2: what he needs to show more that I found him 123 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 2: a very decent man to deal with. 124 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 1: One of the last interviews I did with you, relatively recently, 125 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: was the head of the Privileges Committee and all the 126 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:55,279 Speaker 1: nonsense that was going on last year. Your observation of 127 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: the place in your twenty four years from a point 128 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,039 Speaker 1: of privileges, from the point into the quality of people 129 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 1: coming into the house, of the behavior a tenure, et cetera. 130 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 2: Well, I can tell you that behavior has improved. It's 131 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 2: a Privileges Committee report that's better behavior. I think there 132 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 2: has been a lessening of certain standards, whether it's dress 133 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 2: or everything else. Does that matter. It probably does actually 134 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 2: probably have fewer people who are therefore a longer term 135 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 2: than it used to be when I came in, and 136 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 2: I think sometimes people forget it's not a performance. It's 137 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 2: not just what performance aret. It's not just about social media, 138 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 2: and social media obviously drives some of this behavior, but 139 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 2: it's actually it's a place of work. It's a very 140 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 2: furious place of work. We can have fun in it, 141 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 2: but ultimately people are paying our salaries and they deserve 142 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 2: us to work out and be sensible. 143 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: Congratulations on it all. I'm sure we'll talk again soon 144 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: due to the Collins National MP Cabinet minister on her 145 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 1: way out. For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen 146 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: live to News Talk SETB from six am weekdays, or 147 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.