Judith Collins is remaining National leader to bring “stability” to the party.
However, following Labour’s landslide victory, she says a review of the party will be done.
It will look at the past three years, and investigate constitutional matters - including candidate selection.
Speaking to media on Sunday morning, Collins said she didn’t expect a leadership challenge.
“I did everything I could,” she said, refusing to personally take blame for the election result.
“I take absolute personal responsibility for working every single day and night for the campaign,” she said.
“I am very happy doing the job I’m doing…
“There’s only one thing to look forward to, and that’s 2023.”
Collins said she hoped she would be in a position to run for prime minister at the next election.
National’s caucus is meeting on Tuesday.
Collins said she would vote to re-elect long-time National Party President, Peter Goodfellow.
Collins said National’s internal polling (which interest.co.nz hasn't seen) suggested the party had around 40% support before the second Covid-19 lockdown, and a leaked email that MP Denise Lee sent to the caucus, complaining about Collins announcing a policy to review Auckland Council without consulting her first, cost the party 5% at the polls.
Collins backed the party’s finance spokesperson, Paul Goldsmith, who’s responsible for a number of holes in the party's proposed budget.
Asked whether she believed the party’s policy mix had anything to do with its poor result, Collins said, “It may have," but she couldn't point to a policy she wished she'd brought to the table.
Ultimately, she believed a lot came down to Covid-19 and people being “frightened” of change.
However, Collins said she also had to deal with “some difficult things”, including exiting two MPs - Hamish Walker and Andrew Falloon.
Asked whether she believed National supporters, who voted Labour, would have buyer's remorse, Collins said she hoped not, but worried about Labour’s fiscal policies.
“I feel very concerned for my country," she said.
89 Comments
He wanted another term for sure, but he really wanted one more thing.
To be written into the history books as the guy who changed the flag.
He would have chosen that over the knighthood (that he bought back in) any day.
And I think a log of people voted against changing it because they didn't like Key, really, really didn't like him.
Haha OC, I think those gentlemen are way too smart to return The danger for National imv would be trying to recreate them in some other incarnation. Those who think Nationals hope for near term redemption lies in Chris Luxon would be making a mistake. However Key's ability as a deal maker is definitely needed and the Nats are woefully short of "statesman" qualities the other two had unfortunately
This one made it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9rsxFaq6Ig
So anything is possible.......
Judith Collins has done a pretty good job under diabolical circumstances.
Anyone who challenges her at this point shows a complete lack of wisdom/judgement.......
The solution for National doesn't lie in further leadership changes.
National now needs to focus on policy and discipline. If it does that, it will have a very good chance of governing in 2023.
TTP
The fact is that Collins was a very, very last choice, a final throw of the dice, a ‘well we’re, f****ed anyway, so why not?’ She had been sidelined over the years for good reasons: she is an attack dog, short on unity and loyalty and not leadership material. Ironically, the Nats could have stuck with English, or Bridges, and probably done better. Big job ahead for the party so many of us look to to keep the ship steady. Need to start at the very top.
Chris Finlayson made the point National started heading south when JLR’s exposure hit the fan. Followed by messrs Walker & Falloon with a dose of Boag. Then the engineered departure of Bridges & the arrival of the ill fated Muller, his quick departure along with Ms Adams & Ms Kaye following their toys out of the window. So Ms Collins came on the scene in an impossible set of circumstances & predicaments and and adopted an attack is the best means of defence, what else could she do but her best. Still promoting to #2 a relic such as Brownlee was imprudent and by running true to form, he sure did not help his leader one little bit.
Mitchell has no chance. Luxon is the anointed one, but National needs to steer clear of evangelism. Huge problem for the Nats is that Labour is now a centre government. They just need to steer clear of the Greens, or at least keep them at arms length. The numbers clearly show that many National voters ticked Labour, and they will be twitchy about stuff like the theft tax, executing farmers, making roads too narrow for cars and so on.
It is. Vehemently. Pity though, if the Greens could get over themselves and agree to work with the Nats they may actually achieve more in a future coalition. I think there is an element of Nats support who also lean towards environmental outcomes and possibly there are conservative environmental voters out there. Certainly Vernon Tava thought so
I think the Greens look at what happened to the decimation of the Maori party after going into coalition with National though? (and United Future)
Or maybe that's just to do with how they have percieved National over the last 20 years or so.
But the new National surely can't go on like their predecessors after tallying up <27% of the vote.
National now have a chance to rewrite their playbook. Hopefully they take it. Looking back to the Key years and hoping to repeat that experience would be a mistake. Trouble is both major parties are squabbling over the same ground with only minor differentiation between them and National just trotted out the same old tired message. They had ample opportunity to highlight Labours failings over the last three years but completely bungled it. We need a National party with new ideas, a new message and a viable way of implementing it. This election was a salutary lesson in how not to run a campaign and how not to be an opposition party. And also how not to cry over or dwell on spilt milk
Totally agree Hook.
But even last night on the TV they had people still crying about Jacinda getting air time over covid and the like. Talk about the things you can control, not the stuff you can't.
Who is going to be the person that changes them? Mark Mitchell doesn't seem that guy, in fact I'd say he's a scarier proposition as PM than Crusher. Luxon? Seems like Mr right guy in the right place at the right time at Air NZ. And the fact he had to be called Christopher rather than Chris, that's got pompous twat written all over it.
Nikki Kaye was interesing on TV1 last night, she said they had a couple of really good young female candidates (down south I think) but both lost their seats so the concern was now keeping them in the party.
Then one of the Labour comentators mentioned how it's so hard to get someone that is the right fit (to be leader), the exact reason that Labour went through, Goff, Shearer, Cunniliffe and Little before Ardern came along. He said you it's pretty much pot luck, put them out there with the suit on and see if they manage to fit it.
Nikki Kaye and Amy Adams should be ashamed of their contribution to Nationals position. That she is still commentating on Nationals matters is a disgrace. Their departure was blatant self interest denied and they both tossed their toys. Their "puppet" didn't stand up and their machinations to wield power from "behind the throne" failed. If they were that worried about their families and health they had ample time to leave prior to that leadership challenge. A pox on both their houses
To be honest - I'm not sure. I thought Collins might have been more effective than she is. I like Reti - calm, educated, a good speaker who knows his facts. Personally I like him. Imo he should be allowed to gain some experience with a view to leadership in maybe late '22 early '23
The thing of it is muzled, when the country is voting for personalities as opposed to policy (and that seems to be where we're going) then we're off to hell in a handbasket. The MSM have a lot to answer for in that space and SM is a big influence too. I don't know what the answer is, but I do know this election was the most vacuous, insipid personality contest (with maybe the exception of the minors) that has been visited on NZ since I've been old enough to vote.
Yeah, fair call.
Bit of an unusual year and hopefully next time we can have a little more policy, but I can't imagine we'd be sitting at L1 if we had a Bridges/Muller/Collins lead govt. National just wouldn't have stood up to China and closed the borders, because, you know, the economy.
At the end of the day though you have to be able to relay the fact that you want to do good for the country. Ardern is very good at that (and although she's very good at playing the game she wants a better NZ). Reti also comes across the same. Good reason for getting into politics
Collins, Mitchell and I'm going to add Luxon in there as well (until proven otherwise) come across as looking after themselves and the top 2%. Not good reasons for getting into politics.
Those days are hopefully gone. 98% of us should be flicking the bird at politicians that want to look after the top 2%, hence why I've never understood why National are so popular. The way they are now, 27% is flattering.
I stopped reading (and listening to) MSM about 3 years ago, actually the last time I turned on telly was to watch Mike Hoskings sour face on 7 sharp exactly 3 years ago this day, they're a waste of space on the whole. Wifey spends hours scrolling through the latest pile of shit to pop up on Stuff daily, drives me nuts! ;)
Me, I'm here on interest talking to you... :)
i think we have seen the future of MMP in NZ,, five parties only,
the greens have taken the far left from labour so labour are now a center left party, ACT has taken the right from national so national are now a center right party. the two parties that are closest are now national and labour
the maori party could always get to have an MP here or there because those seats vote the most strategic,
looking at the party vote it looks like a lot of people voted labour to stop the greens taking them to far left
GB is getting stale.. so I agree, time for him to retire. Luxon is too new and Mitchell still has the Middle East Contractor baggage hanging over him - might make a good Defence spokesman though, showed good control on Q&A this morning. Reti needs to feature highly imo. Goldsmith should stay and I hope Willis gets told to tone it down - less theatrics and more substance works better imv. Bridges keeps Justice and maybe FAs. Either way Collins will stay - not many others to choose from. Maybe Muller as DL?
.. agree with all you say except Todd Muller as DL ... they need to groom a future replacement for Crusher ... hence my feeling that someone like Luxon should come under her tutelage ....
If we have a weakened opposition , we run the risk of a sloppy & arrogant government .... come on Gnats , get it together ...
This result is exactly what National needed. A good hard kick in the pants. Now they can go back and review the behaviour and conduct within the entire caucus. Their candidate selection process should be next, followed by MSM and SM conduct and disclosure rules. Let's face it - a process that puts JLR and the two idiots from Southland into Parliament and picks a kid who couldn't even vote when he was selected is SERIOUSLY flawed.
When did National last govern alone? Muldoon?
But you're kind of right - John Key said he was going to address the price of housing, but he must have forgotten that bit of his promises to the electorate.
(We all have the suspicion that he was taken into the backroom of the Central Banking Collective - probably right after his appearance on the Letterman Show; beaten mercilessly and told to "Get back home, and get your people borrowing like we are going to do!" Ardern will be taken into that same backroom; probably on the reassuring arm of one Adrian Orr. What she does will be interesting for us all to watch)
Agreed xing.. whilst the minimum wage increases are good (to a point) said increase will push the price of living up slowly but inexorably as employers move to maintain their margins, which in many SMEs are pretty slim already. Add to that the proposed doubling of sick leave and 10% increase in Stats and the screws just keep being tightened.
... Communist Party governing alone = worst air pollution in the world , = one child policy , = Yellow River turning brown , = suppression of minorities , = no freedom of speech , = censored internet ....
Think we got lucky with our choice between " national " and " labore " ...
You have to give National credit on one key point. The party has never deviated from its core values. It’s the party of the wealthy few, for the wealthy few, and it doesn’t pretend otherwise. Through the years Labour spread itself thin over the entire political spectrum, but National steadfastly and proudly stayed true to itself. Which is, of course, why it is the party beloved only by pampered inheritors and sleazy crooks.
Not a hint that her strident, negative campaign might have put people off. I think Matthew Hooton may well be proved right in saying that National are likely to bury their heads even deeper in the sand and fail again in 2023.
Ardern doesn't have to deliver everything by then if she can demonstrate some real progress on housing, infrastructure, healthcare and importantly, show that she is willing to work with business.
1) National needs to move left to find the centre of politics again. The whole of politics in NZ has moved left.
2) To be competitive National also eventually needs to find a leader with the humanity of Jacinda, and who openly stated last night she is governing for all NZers. Under MMP the centre is the winner as it should be.
3) I also hope this government and future governments (whoever they may be) pick up and continue with the well-being approach started by English & Key.
The true mandate for NZ is a centrist government (& local government) that undertakes socio-economic cost benefit assessment on their policies/laws/regulations to ensure they increase the net welfare (wellbeing) per capita of NZer's.
Not too sure about 1), in my opinion the reason why Labour has obliterated the opposition is because they have taken as theirs a big chunk of their neoliberal ideology in their past few years, one cannot identify Labour as left since it is far from what used to be years ago. As you say, the mandate is centre.
I thought the reason Labour obliterated the opposition was because they skillfully used Covid-19 to their advantage , in instilling fear into the populence ... and demanding the " team of 5 million " obey their every command ..... we are a nation of sheep .... we dutifully obey what we're told , without question nor dissent ...
100% agree. Anyone denying this is delusional.
Stay home. Stay safe. Could not watch the propaganda after a few minutes each day. Its funny talking to family in the US during lockdown they could not understand how obedient everyone here was. There immediate thoughts were people would get there guns out if that was implemented in US cities.....
Cindy use it to maximum advantage.
So would you rather be living in England right now or here OC?
I've got mates in England and they're downright jealous that we can move freely around.
All they've got is the worst of both worlds.
But you seem intent on bagging our situation no matter what happens unless it's a blue govt.
I have close family in London and they are doing fine. They have no interest in coming to NZ. You are exaggerating. I have lots of family in the US and again they are doing fine. Two family members in the US had the covid and gave to one child. They are all good now.
I was asking if they'd be rather be in 'our' situation or 'their' situation.
I'm guessing they don't work in a hospital if they think their situation is better than ours.
I've also had friends in HK that had it, kids also got it, they're all good now as well. But that's got nothing to do with the question I asked you...
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