New Zealand charity benefits from prime minister’s live microphone blunder

A signed transcript of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s vulgar comment about a rival politician has been auction in aid of charity (Rick Rycroft/AP)

When New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was caught on a live microphone using a vulgarity against a rival politician last week, it seemed the nation’s political discourse could be taking an ugly turn heading into an election year.

But Ms Ardern and her target, David Seymour, agreed on a plan to rectify the situation.