William Wood, 18, apologised yesterday for the image, which was taken four years ago when he was aged 14.
The photo, which has been reported on by media since surfacing online, shows Wood posing like Hitler with what appears to be a painted on small moustache.
It appears to be a photo he sent to a friend – or group of friends – which appears to have been leaked.
Collins said today that Wood, National's candidate for the Palmerston North electorate, had faced severe bullying since the incident emerged.
"He's been targeted and bullied and I will not stand for that either," she told reporters today.
Collins described the fallout as a "shocking attack on a young man".
The fact he had promptly apologised yesterday was a sign of "immense maturity".
"And I would like to say to him don't worry, we've got your back," she said.
Rival MPs excuse 'Hitler' case as young man's mistake
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and Act leader David Seymour both expressed some sympathy for Wood.
"We all make mistakes when we were young – I would think it's part of the growing up process," Peters said.
But he did quip that "by the looks of it, he's still growing up".
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Comments
It doesn't happen often but in this case I agree with Winston. This young chap showed the immaturity that we expect of our our young and entitled, privileged, white boys. Clearly not yet ready for the responsibility he seeks. On the other hand, with stunts like that he may just fit right in.
Is this really an action that warrants the bullying of anyone ,the mimicing of Hitler has been around for years.Cut the PC bulls..t and get on with life.
Publically channelling Hitler is offensive.
The picture is private and was leaked. That's the betrayal.
Is JC talking about Social Media?. Get it taken down. We're not all passive receivers of that which is sent out.
Is this really the best the National Party can dredge up to offer as a candidate? It is certainly indicative of gross stupidity and a family environment that produces this behaviour.
This boy may have been educated a bit more since he did this, but he is no smarter.
Haven't they learned anything in the National Party over recent months? If you start off with dumb candidates you end up with dumb MPs. Hamish Walker I am looking at you!
And was 'Third Choice Collins' raising her eyebrows when she said this? What type of people claim their lies are jokes?.
It is the gross incompetence of parents to produce an individual of such low character that would try to ruin a person's career over a Hitler impersonation. What a humorless lowlife. Comedy sketches over the years since the 70s often included Hitler and Nazi sendups. Are you going to join the Cult of the Politically Correct to smear comedians and their parents, too? Hey, Grizzle. I just did a Hitler impersonation. What are you going to do about it?
Looks like the remnant left behind after sculling a glass of milk. If the resultant well-manicured facial addition nods to Hitler then I would be surprised if the lad were not to make some form of joke out of it. Social media is very spur of the moment. Many foolhardy youthful antics are inspired by notorious figures from history, no need to catastrophise it. I mean, Justin Trudeau is the Prime Minister of Canada and he did blackface - several times - how terribly embarrassing.
Prior to social media, many a bad photo from a fancy-dress party could often be found in circulation. Parody and stereotype is part of the fun of such parties. I once shared a whisky with Hitler in the kitchen of a Hope St flat many years past. The fact I was dressed as Mussolini may have had something to do with it.
As a person of Jewish decent, I don't take offence at this per se. The way I look at these things, the question I ask, would a Nazi take offence at this person poking fun at Hitler, much the same as Charlie Chaplin did, would the Gestapo haul him off. The answer is a Nazi would get angry, and good. I actually take a different angle. I think this National candidate should have stood his ground, be brave, not be another sheep and just apologise to the mob. For this he is weak. He should explain that he is no Nazi, that he was denigrating the image of the Nazi leader, and that the bunch of people that are going after him might like to look at themselves in the mirror before they move on to the next book burning. He is possibly trivialising Hitler for what he did, but it doesn't seem to be any sort of support, the opposite is probably true.