Face of the Day

Defence Minister Judith Collins carried a model Seahawk helicopter and a huge grin with her on Thursday, as she headed to the debating chamber.

Collins had just confirmed the Government would buy $2 billion worth of new naval helicopters. That would mean five new MH-60R Seahawk helicopters would arrive, to replace the navy’s fleet of Seasprite maritime helicopters.

She made the announcement with Foreign Minister Winston Peters, alongside the top brass of the Defence Force who joined them a the Beehive press conference room. They had arrived with a model of one of the new maritime helicopters the Defence Force would be buying.

Minutes later, Collins had that model and was on her way to Parliament’s debating chamber. While answering patsy questions from a National backbencher, Collins pulled out the model from under her seat.

As she waved it around, showing the model to all sides of the House, Collins told MPs to “behave”. “The MH-60R Seahawk. This is very nice. Just behave everyone,” she said.

Stuff