Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has rejected a $5 bribe from an 11-year-old who wanted the Government to investigate dragons and psychics.
A letter from Ardern - dated April 30, written on official ministerial letterhead and posted to the New Zealand section of web forum Reddit by user honeybee6992 - thanked 'Victoria' for getting in touch.
"We were very interested to hear your suggestions about psychics and dragons, but unfortunately we are not currently doing any work in either of these areas," Ardern told her.
"I am therefore returning your bribe money, and I wish you all the very best in your quest for telekinesis, telepathy and dragons."
A $5 note is attached to the letter, which also contains a handwritten PS from Ardern.
"I'll still keep an eye out for those dragons. Do they wear suits?"
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister confirmed the letter was genuine.
Newshub has messaged the person who posted the letter on Reddit for more information.
One person in the comment thread on Reddit suggested it was a hoax. "I've seen enough 'cute interactions/replies from famous people to children asking cute questions' posts to think this is a setup," wrote user ciargd.
"I can vouch for it being real since my 13-year-old sister got a very similar response from Jacinda's office last year," replied user CnHackett.
Ardern last year talked about some of the letters she has received from kids in the past, including one that asked her to pass a law making it compulsory for "boring grey toasters" to be brightly-coloured.
Newshub.
