A verbal slip-up by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern surprisingly went to a good cause: The signed transcript of a heated exchange in parliament fetched more than $63,000 (around 59,200 euros) at an online auction on Thursday. During last week’s exchange of blows, Ardern described her opponent David Seymour as an “arrogant asshole”.
She didn’t expect such a turn after the “faux pas with the old microphone in Parliament,” Ardern wrote in online media. The proceeds will go to the New Zealand Prostate Cancer Foundation.
A microphone had recorded Ardern muttering the insult as she returned to her seat. Seymour then asked the Speaker of Parliament for an apology from the Prime Minister – her remark therefore had to be recorded. Seymour later came up with the idea of using the episode as an opportunity to work together for a good cause. According to him, Ardern immediately agreed.
Both politicians then signed a copy of the protocol, which was framed before the auction. “The interest was greater than expected,” Seymour told the AFP news agency. He only expected a fraction of the auction price.
