Timeline of Collins' career

Judith Collins has resigned, effective immediately.

Her resignation was for her ministerial roles, but she will continue to be the MP for Papakura and stand in this election.

Here is a timeline of her career so far:

2002: Elected to Parliament representing East Auckland seat of Clevedon.

2008: Elected MP for Papakura following electorate boundary changes.

National becomes the government and Collins becomes Minister of Police, Corrections and Veterans' Affairs.

Image 1 of 20: 'New National Party Social Affairs spokeswoman Judith Collins' photographed in Parliament. Photo / Getty Images

2009: Collins announces 600 extra frontline police and introduces legislation to crush the cars of boy racers.

2009: Oversees a nationwide rollout of tasers.

2010: Re-introduced private management into the prison system.

2011: Stubbs out smoking in prisons.

2011: A significant privacy breach occurs at the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) following the accidental release of 6700 claimants details to claimant Bronwyn Pullar.

2011: Rises to fifth-ranked MP becoming the most powerful woman in Parliament.

Appointed Minister of Justice, Accident Compensation Corporation and Ethnic Affairs.

December 2012: Pans report by retired Canadian Supreme Court Judge Ian Binnie who backed compensation for David Bain. Leads to High Court action by Bain camp seeking a review of Collins' actions.

2013: Engages in twitter spat with Labour leader David Cunliffe after he calls her a trout.

March 2014: Accused of a conflict of interest after an overseas trip where she endorses milk produced by Oravida of which her husband is a director. Calls for her resgination but she escapes with apology.

August 2014: Dirty Politics released revealing Collins had passed private information about a public servant on to right-wing blogger Cameron Slater. Prime Minister places Collins on notice.

2014: Resigns from Cabinet today following email leaks alleging she had undermined the head of the Serious Fraud Office.