An official signed copy of the transcript of New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern calling a political opponent an “arrogant prick” will be auctioned off to raise money for a prostate cancer charity.
Bidding on the copy of the parliamentary record, signed by both Ardern and David Seymour, leader of the libertarian right Act party, had reached $50,000 by Friday. The auction, titled “Ardern, Seymour join forces for pricks everywhere”, ends on 22 December.
Ardern’s candid comment was caught on a hot mic during parliamentary question time on Tuesday. Seymour had asked a series of questions about whether Ardern stood by all of her statements and policies, and finished by asking Ardern if she could “give an example of her making a mistake, apologising for it properly, and fixing it”.
After her answer, Ardern took her seat and turned to her deputy and close political ally Grant Robertson, saying “he’s such an arrogant prick”. The aside was picked up on her microphone.
Seymour later petitioned for an apology from the speaker, which meant the comment was entered into New Zealand’s parliamentary record, Hansard. Ardern had left the chamber, but texted Seymour to apologise. She later joked in parliament that she stood by all statements – including “insults and apologies”.
The pair, who are typically fiercely opposed in the political realm, later joined forces to raise money for prostate cancer charities with the auction.
“In the spirit of a Kiwi Christmas, two political foes unite to raise money for a good cause,” the auction website reads. The winning buyer will receive “a framed printout of the parliamentary Hansard co-signed by the Rt. Hon. prime minister, Jacinda Ardern and one-time arrogant prick, Act party Leader David Seymour”.
Ardern is not the only world leader to be recently caught out by a hot mic. In January, president Joe Biden was caught calling Fox News reporter, Peter Doocy, “a stupid son of a bitch” for a question about inflation. He appeared to think his microphone was off at the time.
