Quote of the Year poll open for voting

The 10 finalists for Quote of the Year 2022 have been released and Massey University is inviting the public to vote for their favourite. The poll will be open until midday on Friday 16 December.

The quotes were chosen from a list of 23 nominations.

Speech Writing specialist Dr Heather Kavan, who was on the judging panel, said the judges were essentially looking for quotes that had a spark.

Ruby Tui and Jacinda Ardern

Dr Kavan says one of the quotes the judges agreed on immediately was Ruby Tui’s line after winning the Rugby World Cup.

“The whole scene is electrifying. The quote is more than the words; it’s an experience. The heroic triumph against odds, Ruby Tui’s face awash with joy - it’s exhilarating.”

Another contender is Jacinda Ardern’s retort to a journalist’s question about whether she was meeting Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin because they were the same age. The smilingly-delivered line, asking if Barack Obama and John Key were asked the same question, was described by journalist Ben McKay as a ”complete kill shot.”

Dr Kavan says, “People contacted me as soon as the story broke. Twitter was alight. It struck me that the date, 30 November, was the 10-year anniversary of when a row broke out in parliament over Paula Bennett saying “Zip it, sweetie” to Ardern.

“At the time, the parliamentary discussion implied Ardern couldn’t stand up for herself and needed a man to speak on her behalf. That her retort this year was on the anniversary feels like poetic justice.”

Chris Hipkins is back with another line

After taking out last year’s Quote of the Year with his “spread their legs” gaffe, Covid Response Minister Chris Hipkins made headlines this year when explaining how numbers influence mask-wearing mandates.

His quote is: "There are going to be a lot more people in a supermarket on a weekly basis than there will be out and about pashing on a dance floor."

Who will win?

In previous years, voting has been unpredictable. Sometimes a quote no-one thinks will win surges into the lead, such as Simon Bridges’ slip of the tongue that beat one-liners by New Zealand’s top comedians in 2018.

Asked who she would be voting for, Dr Kavan says she is torn between solidarity with women’s equality and a sneaking admiration for the lamington line.

The top 10

• “They said nobody cared about women’s rugby. Well guess what? We out here! We out here fam!” - Ruby Tui to the crowd after the Black Ferns claimed a sixth Rugby World Cup.
• "There are going to be a lot more people in a supermarket on a weekly basis than there will be out and about pashing on a dance floor." - COVID-19 Minister Chris Hipkins on how numbers determine whether people have to wear a mask.  
• “If only we cared as much about the local elections as we do for Bird of the Year.” - Forest and Bird’s Chief Executive Nicola Toki on attempts to rig the competition votes.
• “Fundamentally, I'm interested in being a good person with as minimal inconvenience as possible.” - Comedian Alice Snedden confronting social issues in Bad News.
• "I would have thought that Grant Robertson would be a much bigger threat to lamingtons than lamingtons would be a threat to Grant Robertson.” - David Seymour on police protecting Grant Robertson from a protester carrying a lamington.
• "Do you know how bad that sounds? Mike King’s women's alliance!" - Celebrity Treasure Island contestant Shimpal Lelisi after hearing Mike King joined the women’s alliance.
• “I wonder whether or not anyone ever asked Barack Obama and John Key if they met because they were of similar age.” - Jacinda Ardern when asked if she was meeting Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin because they were the same age.
• “I was born to disrupt things.” - Christchurch Wizard Ian Brackenbury Channell on his life as his 90th birthday approached.
• “It's okay to follow a few cockwombles. It doesn't mean I endorse them.” - Broadcaster Hilary Barry on receiving warnings about people she follows on Twitter.
• “He is delusional, but he’s not suicidal.” - Professor Robert Patman on Putin’s decision-making and nuclear threat.