The Spinoff
I have never laughed so much during a political debate […] some of it was truly joyous, like when Collins very earnestly answered moderator Paddy Gower’s quickfire question about investigating allegations surrounding Gloriavale with “can I tell you I just think it sounds really weird.” She has never been more relatable than in that moment. […] the line of the night still goes to Collins, describing Phil Twyford as “my asset and Miss Ardern’s liability”.
Newsroom
Collins did have some […] striking moments, including when she spoke of abolishing the right to silence in cases of child abuse.
“New Zealanders have had enough of hearing about our children being killed and abused, we’ve all had enough of it, and … isn’t it right for us to stand up for these kids, who clearly don’t have families who will stand up for them?”
She also displayed a rare moment of vulnerability, seemingly close to tears when she spoke about her brother-in-law receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis over the phone while in Covid lockdown.
Stuff
Collins, for her part, now looked like a much more traditional centre-right leader. She was about people spending their own money, making their own decisions, keeping spending under control with a big lick of law and order thrown in. She even thought Donald Trump was pretty good for not taking the US into a war.
Newshub
“JudithCollins MP’s debate performance was the best we have seen by any leader for decades, and is probably only rivalled by David Lange in 1984,” said former National staffer Matthew Hooten.
NZ Herald
Judith Collins won on pure entertainment value, and for actually answering most questions put to her in a straight-up fashion.
Favourite quotes: Judith Collins’ meat soliloquy: “I’m not going to tell people when they can eat their meat. I’m not into communism or fascism. It’s their money, their meat, their bodies. Give people a bit of freedom.”
Favourite line: Collins, asked whether she would coalesce with Winston Peters: “As a Christian I do believe in miracles, but he isn’t one of them.”
RNZ
[…] the winner on the night was Collins’ one-liners:
On meat-free Mondays: “I’m not going to tell people when they can eat their meat – I’m not into communism or fascism”.
On being on the cover of Vogue: “Absolutely would I like to be there. I tell you what Paddy, any political leader who says they wouldn’t is a liar”.
On Labour Party minister Phil Twyford: “He’s my asset and he’s Miss Ardern’s liability”.
And on Winston Peters’ chance at re-election: “As a Christian I do actually believe in miracles but I tell you what, he ain’t gonna be one of them”.
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