Judith Collins is delivering her final speech to Parliament after 24 years.

When her political career comes to an end this week, she believes it will be with a large degree of respect - in Parliament at least.

“I’ve actually found if you survive long enough in this place, then you get a certain level of respect,” she told the Herald’s Audrey Young in the midst of packing up her office.

Collins is leaving to become President of the Law Commission, after a concerted few years of rehabilitating her reputation, and says she is leaving on a high.

“This has been my best term by far.”

And she rates Christopher Luxon as the best boss she has had in Parliament.

Sir John Key and Sir Bill English were very capable prime ministers, she said.

“But Chris has actually given me my head.”

Minister of Defence Judith Collins in July last year. Photo / File

Luxon gave her two “dream jobs”, Attorney-General and Defence, among a myriad of other portfolios, including Space, Digitising Government, Science and Technology, and the Public Service.

“He’s let me get on and do what I need to do. He’s given me the portfolios that I wanted.

“And I’ve been able to make a difference with him, and he’s backed me to do that.”

She said she was one of the few politicians who had never studied politics.

“I’ve just lived it and practised it, so from my point of view, you work out what the place is and how to get things done.”