A Wellington parrot and its signature phrase has beaten the Prime Minister and sporting stars to win the Quote of the Year competition.
The annual contest is run by Massey University and had 10 finalists, with the winner announced at midday today.
Pepper the cockatoo took top spot after hitting the headlines when she was stolen from a wildlife park in the Hutt Valley last month.
The bird was handed to police in Porirua nearly a week after she was taken. Police were able to confirm Pepper’s identity after she squawked her signature phrase, “Hello Darling”, at the police station.
Quote of the Year has been running for 14 years and has never previously been won by a bird.
Second place went to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s retort to a radio interview, “Let me be clear: I’m wealthy, I’m – you know – sorted.”
In response to coming second, Luxon said "I warmly congratulate Pepper the cockatoo on her win".
"Her story just strengthens my resolve to restore law and order in this country."
Among the other finalists was rugby star Ruby Tui’s comment about the gardens at Buckingham Palace, “You’ve got enough room out there for like three rugby fields.”
Finalist in the 2024 Quote of the Year competition
- “You’ve got enough room out there for like three rugby fields.” Ruby Tui to King Charles, referring to the Buckingham Palace gardens.
- “Let me be clear: I'm wealthy, I'm ‒ you know ‒ sorted." Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on property, the media and success.
- “Hello darling!" Pepper the bird-napped cockatoo identifying herself at the Porirua Police station with her signature words.
- "Lounging on the couch, eating Maccas and KFC and popping out babies." Portia Woodman-Wickliffe on retiring after the Olympics.
- “What the hell is this? Look what I’ve been sleeping on the whole time!” Speed climber Julian David looking at his unusual mattress at the Olympic village.
- "Was this a difficult case for me? I think it was a difficult case for everyone." Crown solicitor Alysha McClintock to reporters after the Polkinghorne not guilty verdict.
- “I hate those symbols and salutes, but I quite like knowing who the idiots in society are.” David Seymour on people who use Nazi symbols and salutes.
- "I felt like he needed the hug more than me." Ayesha Leti-I’iga on asking King Charles for a hug.
- “If he were in New Zealand, he would be called 'Fish and Chip shop-sy.” Jeremy Corbett on the theory that graffiti artist Banksy got his name from tagging banks.
- "Kāwana!” “No, don’t do that.” “Ka whakamanuwhiritia koe e au…” MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke before doing a haka in parliament and Speaker Gerry Brownlee simultaneously trying to keep order.
