Judith Collins is a New Zealand National Party politician [71] who has held a wide range of ministerial and parliamentary roles over her career in public life.
Collins attended Matamata College for her secondary education [14] and went on to study at the University of Auckland [15]. According to a single reputable secondary source, she also studied at Massey University [13] and the University of Canterbury [16], and holds a Bachelor of Laws [11]. She is confirmed as a qualified lawyer [4], and according to a single reputable secondary source she began practising as a solicitor specialising in employment, property, commercial and tax law from 1981 [5]. She served as President of the Auckland District Law Society [7] and Vice-President of the New Zealand Law Society [8]. According to a single reputable secondary source, she owned a law firm from 1990 [3].
Collins entered Parliament as Member of Parliament for Clevedon in 2002 [40]. She later represented the electorate of Papakura, according to a single reputable secondary source, from 2008 [41]. She is affiliated with the National Party [71].
Following the 2008 election, Collins was appointed Minister of Police [60] and Minister of Corrections [57], with a single reputable secondary source placing both appointments from 19 November 2008 [17][24]. She subsequently served as Minister of Justice from 12 December 2011, according to a single reputable secondary source [27]. According to a single reputable secondary source, she also held the portfolios of Minister of Energy and Resources and Minister of Revenue from 20 December 2016 [19][23].
According to a single reputable secondary source, Collins became the 14th Leader of the National Party on 14 July 2020 [18], also serving as Leader of the Opposition during that period [36]. She held the party leadership until the National Party returned to government.
From 27 November 2023, Collins holds the confirmed portfolio of Minister for Space [54], as well as, according to single reputable secondary sources, Minister of Defence [26], Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology [22], and Minister for Digitising Government [25]. She is also noted as Minister Responsible for the GCSB [43] and NZSIS [45], and as Lead Coordination Minister for the Government's Response to the Royal Commission's Report into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques [32], all according to single reputable secondary sources. From 24 January 2025, she has held the role of Minister for the Public Service, according to a single reputable secondary source [21].
Outside of Parliament, Collins has served as a company director [2] and, according to a single reputable secondary source, as a director of Housing New Zealand [10]. She also served as President of the Auckland District Law Society [7] and Vice-President of the New Zealand Law Society [8]. According to a single reputable secondary source, she attended Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in 2013 [12] and has held an adjunct professorship at Western Sydney University's law school from October 2024 [1]. According to a single reputable secondary source, she is a member of the Fulbright New Zealand Alumni Association [9]. She has been awarded the Ex-Vietnam Services Association Pin and Badge [68].