Minister hits out at ‘armchair admirals’ over sexist claims about sinking

Judith Collins has hit out at claims on social media over the sinking of the ship (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)

New Zealand’s defence minister issued stinging rebukes of what she said were “vile” and “misogynistic” online remarks by “armchair admirals” about the woman captain of a navy ship that ran aground, caught fire and sank off the coast of Samoa.

“Seriously, it’s 2024,” Judith Collins told reporters on Thursday. “What the hell’s going on here?”