Taboo word hits the mark as Quote of the Year winner announced

The winning quote, penned by The Post National Affairs Editor Andrea Vance in a Sunday Star Times column in May, took aim at the Government's decision to abolish ongoing pay equity claims.

The quote reverberated around the Beehive and ended up making Parliamentary history when Act Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden referenced it in the debating chamber, becoming the first person to utter the C-word in Parliament.

Andrea Vance’s words were the clear favourite, earning 41 per cent of nearly 4000 votes. The top 10 quotes were shortlisted by a panel of communications experts from dozens of nominations before the public voted for their winner.

Former broadcast journalist, current media consultant and Massey University journalism lecturer Charlotte Shipman was on the judging panel and says the winning quote’s power lies in its purpose.

Many of the top 10 quotes shared a common theme - they fought for the underdog.

“Kiwis pride themselves on taking a stand,” Mrs Shipman adds. “These quotes show we don’t limit that advocacy to ourselves. It’s the fight; for nature, peace and fairness that’s captured us in 2025.”

Second place went to Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick whose fiery words during a debate on Palestinian Statehood, led to her being ejected from the house: “If we find six of 68 Government MPs with a spine, we can stand on the right side of history.”

Third place was claimed by Matt Bailey, organiser of the North Canterbury Hunting Competition, with his memorable response to a question about feral cats: "They're killing our native birds and not shagging them.”

Journalist, publisher, and broadcaster, and current New Zealand editor of The Conversation, Finlay Macdonald was also part of the panel shortlisting the nominated quotes.

Previous winners have often been accidental slip ups such as former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins' infamous “spread your legs” gaffe, or former National Party leader Simon Bridges’ “Paula Benefit” blunder.

This year, however, the winning quote was deliberate, sharp, and impossible to ignore.

The top 10 quotes in 2025 – in order – are:

1. "Turns out you can have it all. So long as you're prepared to be a c…t to the women who birth your kids, school your offspring and wipe the arse of your elderly parents while you stand on their shoulders to earn your six-figure, taxpayer-funded pay packet.” The Post National Affairs Editor Andrea Vance in a Sunday Star Times column skewering the Government's abolishment of ongoing pay equity claims, which inspired Brooke van Velden to be the first person in New Zealand's history to say c*nt in Parliament.
2. "If we find six of 68 Government MPs with a spine, we can stand on the right side of history.” Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick speaking at Parliament in August during a debate on Palestinian Statehood, leading to her being ejected from the house.
3. "They're killing our native birds and not shagging them.” Matt Bailey, organiser of the North Canterbury Hunting Competition, when asked if trapping, neutering, and releasing feral cats would be better than culling them.
4. "Wildlife doesn't have brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers to call the police if something happens.” Department of Conservation prosecutor Mike Bodie at a court hearing for a South Korean man who was caught trying to smuggle rare geckos out of New Zealand.
5. "If you are unhappy with it, for God's sake, go make a Marmite sandwich and put an apple in a bag just like you and I had.” Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, in response to media coverage about the school lunches programme.
6. "I know he's the Prime Minister, I made him the Prime Minister.” Foreign Minister and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, when questioned by reporters over why he didn’t consult with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon over the sacking of former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Phil Goff, following his comments about United States President Donald Trump.
7. "If it walks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck, it's not looking good, is it?” Public Service Minister Judith Collins, in response to the Independent Police Conduct Authority report into the Police handling of complaints against former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming.
8. "Thank you so much for believing in Indigenous stories and believing they could be more than just brown people standing on a mountain playing a flute talking to ancestors.” Film maker and actor Taika Waititi during his acceptance speech for receiving the Producers Guild of America (PGA) Norman Lear Achievement Award.
9. "I will not be setting a precedent that the way to get a meeting with me is to don an adult nappy and chain yourself to a door.” Finance Minister Nicola Willis after a group of six priests chained themselves together outside her office, calling for sanctions on Israel.
10. "The next goal is to jump 2.40m as that's quite a key height, and also because it'd be kind of cool to be able to jump over a ceiling.” Olympic gold medallist Hamish Kerr on Paddy Gower’s podcast The F#$%ing News.

Massey University Corporate Communications Manager and panellist Jenna Nichols says the competition has been an annual highlight since it was founded by the late Dr Heather Kavan in 2011.

“Sadly, Heather passed away in December last year. Her vision was to celebrate the words that shape our national conversations—whether witty, controversial, or profound. Massey University is honoured to continue her legacy with the annual competition.

“We really enjoy ending the year on a high and with a bit of fun, so I would encourage everyone to nominate their quotes next year, so we can continue this special tradition.”

Read the past winning quotes.