Quote of the Year

Quote of the Year is an annual New Zealand vote run by Massey University. A vote is held to determine best quote in New Zealand for the year.

Timeline

2023

Winner

"'Nah, we’re just three Māori boys" — Mikey Kihi, Rikki Kihi, and Morehu Maxwell. During Cyclone Gabrielle, these three were rescuing people in a boat, and were asked "Are you guys from the navy?"

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 farewell speech 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

Winner

"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

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)

2021

Winner

"[It is a] challenge for people in high-density areas to get outside and spread their legs when they are surrounded by other people" — COVID-19 Minister Chris Hipkins

Finalists

The 10 finalists of 2021 were:

• "It is a challenge in high-density areas for people to get outside and spread their legs." — Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins
• "He is about as exciting as the Taihape public toilets." — Mike Williams (referencing Christopher Luxon)
• "It was like a half-sucked Oddfellow in the sky." — Mark Richardson (referencing a blood moon lunar eclipse)
• "If I can't be cured, I'll be the cure." — Jemima Gazley (explaining why she crowd-funded research to the cancer she had)
• "That was a bed-time fail." — Jacinda Ardern (after she gets interrupted by her daughter on Facebook live)
• "We've got an economy that's running on a sugar hit." — David Seymour
• "Does anyone know if the tinny house in Aro will be open during level 4?" — person on a Facebook post
• "Who is going to do a Berocca in the morning?" — Anna Lorck
• "Hey Judith, it's not that bad. Raise an eyebrow, to show you're glad." — Jono and Ben (in a song to Judith Collins)
• "No, it's a f***ing goat." — Toddler

2020

Winner

"Let it be known these tears are not for you" by Sara Qasem, whose father was murdered in the Christchurch mosque shootings. She received 26.5% of the 2479 votes.

Finalists

The 2020 year was the first year with a quote from a bird, and a quote of a group of people (New Zealanders as a whole). Many of the quotes were influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 10 finalists of 2020 were:

• "Because we can't get on each other's nerves if we're dancing constantly." — Buchanan family (in their video COVID-19 lockdown music video)
• "When my eyebrow goes up, it's a joke." — Judith Collins
• "I am the orange face you can trust." — Orange-fronted parakeet (campaigning in the Bird of the Year competition)
• "There are no new cases of Covid-19 to report in New Zealand today." — Ashley Bloomfield (during press many press conferences)
• "The Aussies can have Russell Crowe, but they can't have our buzzy bee." — Simon Beattie (after The Crown placed buzzy bee in scene in Australia)
• "Let it be known these tears are not for you." — Sara Qasem (in her victim impact statement talking to the Christchurch mosque shootings perpetrator)
• "I did a little dance." — Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (describing how she reacted when the country reached zero active COVID-19 cases)
• "You're on mute" — New Zealanders during Zoom meetings.
• "Put your jazz cabbage away people." — Hilary Barry (talking about the cannabis referendum which voted against legalisation).
• "It really highlights how three-ply soft we've become as a species." — Psychology professor Marc Wilson (referencing toilet paper stockpiling during the lockdowns)

See also

• Bird of the Year