New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has branded the conservative leader of the opposition a 'Karen' in a bitter debate over a new hate speech law which critics have slammed as an infringement of free speech.
In an extraordinary attack on Judith Collins, Ardern implied that the opposition leader was a 'Karen' - a middle-class white woman who considers herself highly and is entitled.
The comments were made as the two politicians debated Ardern's new hate speech law which critics have slammed as an attempt to clamp down on free speech.
David Seymour, the leader of the rightwing ACT party, has branded the proposed law as an infringement of free speech and said it will shut down debate and 'put cancel culture on steroids'.
He said the only people who will benefit from this law will be the 'Twitter mob and the perpetually offended'.
During the debate, Ardern turned a Tweet by Ms Collins against her in a debate over hate speech, in which the Nationals leader asked 'Will calling a middle-aged white woman a "Karen" now be a crime under Jacinda Ardern's law?'
Jacinda Ardern blunted her counterpart Judith Collins saying new hate speech legislation wouldn't be strong enough to protect Collins herself from being called a 'Karen'
Ms Collins (pictured), also known as 'Crusher', suffered a stinging rebuke in the NZ Parliament
After Ms Collins, also known as 'Crusher', said Ms Ardern was 'wrong' to stop debate on hate speech, the Kiwi Prime Minister was ready with her razor sharp rebuttal.
'Mister speaker, I disagree with that statement and I also disagree with the member's statement on Twitter that somehow it will become illegal to call someone a Karen,' she said.
'That is absolutely incorrect, and I apologise, that means these laws will not protect that member [Collins] from such a claim.'
While Ms Ardern's comments weren't a direct attack on her rival, the debate chamber knew exactly what she had implied and erupted in laughter.
A 'Karen' is a term referencing a certain type of middle-class white woman who considers herself highly and is entitled.
Ms Collins quickly stood to reply, but
