Simon Bridges is gaining popularity, but it's not necessarily as a politician.
In July the National leader accidentally called his second-in-charge "Paula Benefit", and it's winning Massey University's Quote of the Year vote.
Organiser Dr Heather Kavan told RadioLIVE a comment John Key made in Australia is not far behind.
"He's talking about how the Prime Minister's changed so frequently, and he says, 'I used to say mate, I really don't mind who turns up - just wear a name badge.'"
Full list of this year's Quote of the Year finalists
- We're quite a fiddly-looking shaped country - a bit like a half-eaten lamb chop." Actor and comedian Rhys Darby speculating on why New Zealand is left off world maps, in a Tourism NZ video.
- "It's racist as f**k. I think New Zealand is the best place on the planet, but it's a racist place." Filmmaker Taika Waititi describing experiences of discrimination to Ruban Nielson.
- ''Wonky Donkey has had a good run for a donkey with three legs." Author Craig Smith after sales of his children's book skyrocketed when a video of a grandmother reading it went viral.
- "I do find it slightly offensive that everyone thinks that every New Zealander starred in either Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit." Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern discussing Hobbiton on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
- "I used to say, 'Mate, I don't really mind who turns up, just wear a name badge so I know who it is.'" Former Prime Minister John Key on trying to keep up with who the latest Australian Prime Minister is.
- "Winston Peters spends a huge amount of time on me, on Paula Ben- Benefit- Bennett." National Party leader Simon Bridges' slip of the tongue when referring to colleague Paula Bennett.
- "I don't know exactly what she said, but I know if you play it backwards it says 'Help me!'" Comedian Melanie Bracewell when asked to recall Melania Mr Trump's answer to a reporter's question, on Have you been Paying Attention?
- "It's so refreshing to see a straight white man not succeed in comedy right now." Comedian Rose Matafeo responding to British comedian Naz Osmanoglu's jokes about her ethnicity.
- "A little bit of a snafu." Graeme Ball of the New Zealand History Teachers' Association describing the NZQA History exam where year 13 students were stumped by the word "trivial".
- "I think Minogue is an amazing partner, but perhaps sometimes his ideas don't align with actual rational thinking or any evidence or any intelligence." Officer O'Leary (actor Karen O'Leary) of Wellington Paranormal describing Officer Minogue.
News and culture site The Spinoff launched a rival Quote of the Year competition, featuring memorable lines from Dame Denise L'Estrange Corbet, Shane Jones and another clunker from Simon Bridges.
The vote closes on Wednesday at midday.
Newshub.
