WELLINGTON (AFP) – A signed transcript of a parliamentary exchange in which New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called a political rival an “arrogant prick” raised more than USD63,000 for charity when bidding closed yesterday in an online auction.
“Can’t say I expected this,” Ardern posted on social media after what she described as her “faux pas with the old mic in parliament” raised the sum for New Zealand’s Prostate Cancer Foundation.
A microphone picked up New Zealand’s premier muttering the insult, aimed at political opponent David Seymour, following a heated exchange between the pair during a parliamentary session last week.
An exasperated Ardern was overheard saying “he’s such an arrogant prick” as she retook her seat after answering a barbed question from Seymour, leader of the right-liberalist party ACT.
Seymour came up with the idea of joining forces for a good cause and they both signed a copy of the transcript which was framed before being auctioned.
“The interest was greater than anyone dreamed,” Seymour said in a statement, after having told AFP he had only expected the transcript to reach a fraction of the winning bid of NZD100,100 (USD63,200).
