Quote of the Year

Quote of the Year is an annual New Zealand vote run by Massey University. Voters will vote on what they believe to be the best quote in New Zealand for each year.

Timeline

2023

Finalists

The 10 finalists of 2023 were:

1. "I don't listen to rumours. I just start them." — Taika Waititi
2. "I encourage all of you to go out there, have more babies if you wish, that would be helpful." — Christopher Luxon
3. "A B-grade American celebrity coming out and essentially hijacking Bird of the Century. I don’t think he even likes birds." — Erin Reilly of Save the Kiwi (referencing John Oliver campaigning for the puteketeke).
4. "Nah, we’re just three Māori boys." — Mikey Kihi, Rikki Kihi, and Morehu Maxwell (While rescuing trapped people during Cyclone Gabrielle, these three were asked if they were from the navy)
5. "How big is his hole?" — Nicola Willis (asking Grant Robertson in parliament about a fiscal gap)
6. "You can be a mother, or not, an ex-Mormon, or not, a nerd, a crier, a hugger – you can be all of these things, and not only can you be here – you can lead." — Jacinda Ardern (during her farewall speach from her role as prime minister)
7. "There is nobody who fails to be interesting" — Kim Hill (referencing her job interviewing people as a broadcaster)
8. "Up the Wahs!" — Fans of the Warriors.
9. "The issue is rain. We really need that to stop." — Auckland mayor Wayne Brown (as the city went into a state of emergency).
10. "Oh, have you got ID?" — Auckland bar manager (asking Ed Sheeran)

2022

Finalists

The 10 finalists of 2022 were:

• "They said nobody cared about women’s rugby. Well guess what? We are here! We are here, fam !" — Ruby Tui
• "If only we cared as much about the local elections as we do for Bird of the Year." — Nicola Toki (talking about rigging attempts)
• "Fundamentally, I'm interested in being a good person with as minimal inconvenience as possible." — Alice Snedden
• "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
• "Do you know how bad that sounds? Mike King’s women's alliance!" — Shimpal Lelisi (on Celebrity Treasure Island)
• "I wonder whether or not anyone ever asked Barack Obama and John Key if they met because they were of similar age." — Jacinda Ardern (after asked if she met Finish Prime Minister Sanna Marin due to their similar age)
• "I was born to disrupt things." — The Wizard of New Zealand
• "It's okay to follow a few cockwombles. It doesn't mean I endorse them." — Hilary Barry (after being warned about the people she follows on Twitter)
• "He is delusional, but he’s not suicidal." — Professor Robert Patman (referencing Vladimir Putin's nuclear threat)
• "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 (referencing mask wearing)