David Seymour and Jacinda Ardern sign the printout of Hansard they plan to auction off for charity. Photo: ACT Party
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and ACT leader David Seymour are teaming up for charity after she was caught calling him an "arrogant prick" in Parliament.
The two leaders will sign a framed transcript of the remark and auction it on Trade Me, with proceeds going to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Seymour said Ardern agreed to the idea at last night's Press Gallery Christmas party.
"Standing up for pricks everywhere," he said.
"A couple of people suggested parts of the idea, I put it together and suggested it to the prime minister and she got it immediately, so I think it's a great Kiwi ending to what could have been a nasty incident."
Ardern and Seymour with the framed transcript in the Beehive. Photo: ACT Party
In a statement, he said the frame was bought on sale at Briscoes.
"I've never held any animosity to her personally, her intentions, or her sincerity, I think she knows that" - ACT leader David Seymour
Seymour told Checkpoint the budget frame was appropriate during a cost-of-living crisis.
"I went to Briscoes and said $29.99," he said.
"It was actually only $17.99 when I got to the checkout. Amazingly Briscoes were actually having a sale, which I think is a good omen both for the whole project, the whole kaupapa."
The fundraiser could appeal to anyone, he said: "People who dislike me, people who like me, people who dislike Jacinda and people who like her but most importantly people who hate prostate cancer".
Ardern posted a link to the auction on social media, saying the quote had been immortalised "in the spirit of good sportsmanship and a good cause".
The remark - muttered to her deputy after a combative Question from Seymour on Tuesday, the second-to-last sitting day of the year - was picked up faintly by the debating chamber's microphone and preserved in the official Parliamentary transcript, known as Hansard.
Ardern quickly sent him a text message to apologise, and later offered a further apology in the House.
Seymour at the time said it was "water off a duck's back".
When the pair were both signing the item there was no awkwardness, he said.
"I've had a relationship where I've known Jacinda for 11 years. We've debated each other in many different places. For a year, we had a duel running newspaper column in the Sunday Star ... But I've never held any animosity to her personally, her intentions, or her sincerity, I think she knows that.