A microphone caught the New Zealand Prime Minister muttering the insult aimed at political opponent David Seymour after a heated exchange between the two.
A signed transcript of a parliamentary exchange in which New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called a political rival an "arrogant asshole" raised more than $63,000 for charity when the bid ended in an online auction on Thursday. "I can't say I expected this in ," Ardern posted on social media.
After what she described as her "misstep with the old microphone in Parliament", she raised the sum for the New Zealand Prostate Cancer Foundation. A microphone caught the New Zealand Prime Minister muttering the insult aimed at political opponent David Seymour after a heated exchange between the two during a parliamentary session last week.
An angry Ardern was heard saying, "He's such an arrogant idiot," as he resumed his seat after answering a pointed question from Seymour, leader of the far-right ACT party. Seymour asked the Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament for an apology. de Ardern, which meant his comment was included in the official record, known as Hansard. Seymour came up with the idea of teaming up for a good cause and they both signed a copy of the transcript, which was framed before was auctioned.
The interest has been greater than anyone could have imagined," Seymour said in a statement after telling AFP he expected the transcript to fetch a fraction of the NZ$100,100 (US$63,200) winning bid. Ardern also thanked "everyone who bid" and commended Seymour for being "a good sport," a compliment the ACT guide returned.
"When I suggested it to him, he immediately agreed," Seymour said. "I was struck by the kindness of the bidders, who are so generous with helping idiots everywhere," he added.
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