New Zealand PM says she stands by crude insult caught on hot mic
- Ardern apologised again on Wednesday for the muttered remark about the leader of another political party she had made the day before
- But when asked later by another opposition politician if she ‘stands by all her statements and actions’, she replied ‘yes, insults and apologies’
Ardern apologised in parliament to ACT Party leader David Seymour for calling him an “arrogant p****”, but the went on to confirm that she stood by the remark in response to a question from National Party leader Christopher Luxon.
Seymour had already accepted an earlier apology from Ardern on Tuesday, and appeared to also accept Wednesday’s apology as well. But he seemed to become irked by a later remark from Te Pāti Māori leader Rawiri Waititi, who noted that he thought Ardern’s rude characterisation of Seymour was “correct”.
Making matters even more awkward was the fact that Waititi sits next to Seymour in New Zealand’s House of Representatives. As Waititi took his seat and was reprimanded by the Speaker of the House for his remarks, a solemn Seymour could be seen looking on.
Wednesday’s apology from Ardern was made thanks to a deft tactic Seymour had employed the day before.
He said he had not initially heard Ardern mutter “arrogant p****”, but after being contacted by reporters for a comment about the remarks, which had been picked up on a desk microphone, he raised a point of order asking the prime minister to apologise.
Because Seymour addressed the original remark, parliament rules required it to be included in the written record of proceedings, known as Hansard.
