Jacinda Ardern

The New Zealand prime minister apologises to the leader of an opposition party after her desk microphone catches a comment to her deputy.

Mr Seymour, who said he admired some of Ms Ardern's political skills immensely, said he had written back to Ms Ardern thanking her for the apology and wishing her a very merry Christmas. Mr Seymour said that in her text, Ms Ardern wrote that she "apologised, she shouldn't have made the comments, and that, as her mum said, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it." - In a text message to Mr Seymour, Ms Ardern apologised and said she should not have made the comment

The New Zealand prime minister uttered the insult after responding to a barrage of questions from right-wing ACT party leader David Seymour on Tuesday.

if people were offended I’m sorry about that,” he said. it’s water off a duck’s back.” The 52-year-old said he didn’t resile from the comments but he “wasn’t meaning to disrespect South Auckland”. “If you’re sitting in a garage in South Auckland with your two brothers and you’re thinking about life and where you’re going, consciously or unconsciously, the gang life looks pretty attractive,” he said. Ironically, the last question in Seymour’s train of attacks was “can the prime minister give an example of her making a mistake, apologising for it properly and fixing it?” The outburst is a departure from Ardern’s self-described “relentlessly positive” brand of politics, coming on the second-last parliamentary day of the year.

New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern was put on the spot by a hot mic that caught her calling her rival an “arrogant pr***” – a disparaging remark that ...

“It would be so embarrassing for Biden if those f***ers at the National Assembly don’t approve this [bill],” he was caught saying in a video posted by South Korean television broadcaster MBC on its official YouTube channel. The prime minister’s gaffe comes ahead of a tough election campaign in 2023. “Jacinda Ardern text me [sic] and said, ‘I apologise. The leader of the opposition libertarian Act party, David Seymour, was bombarding her with questions, including asking for an “example of her making a mistake, apologising for it properly, and fixing it”. “I’m absolutely shocked and astonished at her use of language,” Mr Seymour told the Associated Press. [New Zealand](/topic/new-zealand) prime minister [Jacinda Ardern](/topic/jacinda-ardern) was put on the spot by a hot mic that caught her calling her rival an “arrogant pr***” – a disparaging remark that was broadcast on parliament television.

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern was this week caught calling a male politician an "arrogant prick" in a hot mic moment that will go down in history.

"[She] said 'I apologise, it’s not something I should have said' and she said, 'as my mum would say, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it'," he added. At the end of her reply, Ardern sat down next to her deputy, Grant Robertson, and quietly said "such an arrogant prick". Speaking to the media after the session had ended, Seymour said that Ardern had texted him to say sorry.

Jacinda Ardern's political philosophy is simple. When the New Zealand PM was asked to explain the qualities that led to her success, she said she valued: ...

But the good news is that there’s a happy ending to this story: Ardern sent Seymour a message to apologise, in which she said: ‘As my mum would say, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it.’ Unfortunately for Ardern, her microphone was on. Not so if a clash between her and a fellow party leader in the New Zealand parliament is anything to go on.

The comment came after lawmaker David Seymour peppered her with questions about her government's record.

He said it was also ironic because his question to the prime minister had been about whether she had ever admitted a mistake as leader and then fixed it. "I'm absolutely shocked and astonished at her use of language," Seymour said. After five years as prime minister, Ardern faces a tough election campaign in 2023.

The prime minister called David Seymour "an arrogant prick" in the House on Tuesday. The comment can be heard about 5 seconds into the video. Luke Malpass is ...

It seemed the decision was made in May and the Government just didn’t want to change it. They work for you, not the parties or people in power. We've always made decisions that we believe to be in the best interests of New Zealand at the time.” The whole episode also reveals a very real Achilles heel of Labour. Let's go to the tape: “There's been a number of occasions where we acknowledge that we will not have perfect responses. Whatever your politics, we can all agree: New Zealand is better off when Kiwis are well-informed. And no-one associates that with kindness. Its top ministers clearly have a don’t-apologise-unless-it's-absolutely-necessary strategy. [hate speech](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/130534545/hate-speech-change-what-it-means-and-why-it-matters) to [school truancy](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/the-whole-truth/130516397/the-whole-truth-whats-going-on-with-school-attendance). * [National and ACT remain in strong position to govern, poll suggests](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/130747994/national-and-act-remain-in-strong-position-to-govern-poll-suggests?rm=a) [David Seymour an “arrogant prick”](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300764061/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-calls-act-leader-david-seymour-an-arrogant-prick) in Parliament shows the pressure she and Labour are both under after a long year.

And Bolger's former Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister, Sir Douglas Graham, says the principle of partnership under the Treaty has gone a lot further than ...

But to keep going on and on was the very thing I tried to get rid of, frankly - looking in the past, harbouring grievances. “Some shocking things were done and they needed to be corrected and acknowledged. Graham said that there was nothing wrong with the court describing the Treaty as a partnership. His view on the potential for difficulties over the partnership decision is not new. That cannot be the case.” “The uncertainty is leading to huge anxiety and anger, sadly, anger as well. “What we need to be saying is ‘how do we incorporate our full and complete history into our decision-making. People talk to me about it and they are angry. “So it has got away. It’s almost like a rugby match with even teams, and whoever wins, wins.” Bolger’s Government settled Māori fisheries claims with the pan-Māori Sealord deal which distributed 20 per cent of fishing quota to tribes. Bolger supported and still supports compulsory teaching of Māori in primary school and regrets not having pushed harder for it.

Ardern was caught speaking poorly of Act leader David Seymour, calling him “such an arrogant prick” under her breath as she took her seat following questions in ...

the great irony is now I actually have got her to apologise for something. I just wish she’d apologise for a few other things.” “I asked her the question ... “She couldn’t answer the question which is probably why she was a bit flustered ... I just said, thank you and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas. At the end of the day, it’s not the end of the world.”

The Guardian said Jacinda Ardern was the latest leader to fall victim to a hot microphone.

the great irony is now I actually have got her to apologise for something. I just wish she’d apologise for a few other things.” “She couldn’t answer the question which is probably why she was a bit flustered... At the end of the day, it’s not the end of the world.” can she give us one example where she’d made a mistake, admitted it, apologised and fixed it. I just said, thank you and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.

The Prime Minister apologised to ACT Leader David Seymour after she called him an "arrogant prick" under her breath.

The PM's pot-shot was heard around the world, but how offensive is the swear word in question?

The swearers will hang in on endurance tasks and manage to last longer.” We'd love your support today. * “Prick” might meet the standard of taboo as it is associated with the male anatomy – and is not the sort of language usually expected (on a mic at least) during question time in the House. [The swear word] needs to come from a particular domain and be associated with taboo – it needs to be associated with profanity.” That is, a word might be less offensive if used by someone who represents the relevant oppressed/marginalised group (they use the example that a woman may be less likely to be offended by another female using a sexist slur than if a man were to use it). Over the last year, the BSA received no complaints about the word “prick” as it had in previous surveys (other curse words that we seemed to have softened on as a nation include: bastard, dick, God, hoe, Jesus Christ, shit, w...er). The term “prick” was removed from this year's BSA report on swearing in broadcasting – which implies it is no longer considered offensive to the New Zealand public. On that basis, “arrogant prick”, with its effect of assonance and the harsh plosive, might meet the standards – but our experts have more than one way of deciding what makes something NSFW AF. As it turned out, the jury was split over whether “arrogant prick” qualified as swearing – but the sound of the insult itself might hold the key. [fter Hilary Clinton’s “basket of deplorables” comment](https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/85869755/donald-trump-voter-arrested-for-refusal-to-remove-deplorables-tshirt)) or whether it is a blemish [on the PM’s mantra to be kind](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/128291641/be-kind-or-be-realistic-why-kiwis-are-fed-up-with-everything-right-now) remains to be seen. So we turned to the Broadcasting Standards Authority and a linguistics professor to decide how rude the phrase is, and whether Kiwis think it is a swear word at all.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has officially apologised for calling ACT leader David Seymour “an arrogant prick”.

They work for you, not the parties or people in power. I agree with the sentiment and it's all good,” he said. Whatever your politics, we can all agree: New Zealand is better off when Kiwis are well-informed. Seymour had asked Ardern 10 questions during question time, canvassing issues from hate speech to Three Waters. Ardern responded with an example about MIQ, then sat down. It's not something I should have said.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern apologised to Act leader David Seymour in Parliament today for calling him an “arrogant prick”. However, in response to a que.

On that basis, I wish to formally, in this House, withdraw and apologise for those comments, which I won’t repeat.” Ardern said. As Waititi took his seat and was reprimanded by the Speaker for the remarks, a solemn Seymour could be seen looking on. However, after Seymour was contacted by the Herald for comment about the remarks, which had been picked up on the House microphone and verified by the Herald, he raised a point of order in the House asking her to apologise.