Judith Collins

Collins' claims Samoa 'closed its borders a month before New Zealand' fact-checked as false

About 20 minutes into the televised debate, host Patrick Gower wanted to get the two leaders' thoughts on when a travel 'bubble' could be opened up with the Pacific.

"When will that be open for people to see their families or holiday - how quickly do you want to get the Pacific open?"

Collins answered: "A country like Samoa, it closed its borders a month before New Zealand did. So, so much for hard and early - they actually did."