Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Independent TV

Showing now | News

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern suggests opposition leader is a 'Karen'

00:24

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern suggests opposition leader is a ‘Karen’

New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern suggested that the opposition leader could be called a ‘Karen’ during a parliamentary debate.

Judith Collins had previously tweeted criticism of proposed changes to the country’s hate speech laws, questioning if “calling a middle-aged white woman a ‘Karen’” would now be a crime.

Ardern fired back during the debate, saying: “As it happens, I disagree with the member’s statement on Twitter, that somehow it will become illegal to call someone a ‘Karen.’

“That is absolutely incorrect and I apologise that it means these laws will not protect the member from such a claim.”

Up next

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in