The former National minister on stepping away from politics after 24 years. Video / Ryan Bridge TODAY
Judith Collins was disgusted by the reaction to her infamous “talofa” comment, saying she thought it was “a lot of hysteria from a whole bunch of wet wipes”.
The longstanding National Party MP, who is leaving politics, said, “My husband is Samoan, so talofa” in response to a questionduring a leaders’ debate for the 2020 election.
The comment faced widespread backlash, with many claiming the former National leader “weaponised” the ethnicity of her husband, David Wong-Tung, for political gain.
Reflecting on the six-word sentence, which gained viral attention, on Ryan Bridge TODAY, Collins said she and her husband were “disgusted” by the response it received.
“Talofais a term that I use all the time. I’m actually only regretting I didn’t use it in Parliament in my valedictory [speech].
“For those people who got themselves all excited and stupid, frankly, my husband is Samoan. He was born in Samoa. He was brought up there as a child, came to New Zealand when he was 8. His first language is Samoan."
Former National Party Judith Collins made the now infamous 'talofa' comment during a 2020 leaders' debate.
Collins said the criticism came from people who “see themselves as exceptionally progressive”.
“They were looking at me, a, you know, white woman or palagi as Samoans call [it], and they’re saying, ‘Well, she can’t use that’.”
Most Samoans can trace their family lineage back to each other because of the Pacific nation’s small population, Collins said.
“So frankly, I thought it was a lot of hysteria from a whole bunch of wet wipes who wanted to judge me. So no, I was very annoyed with them, and I still am.”
Retiring National Party minister Judith Collins in her office at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The reaction was “deeply offensive to us as a family”, she said.
