New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern brands conservative leader of the opposition a 'Karen' in bitter debate over new hate speech law

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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. 

Ardern implied that opposition leader Judith Collins was a 'Karen' - a middle-class white woman who has a high opinion of herself and acts in an entitled manner. 

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 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. 

Ms Collins quickly stood to reply, but backed down admitting what she had planned to say would be 'cruel'. 

She again raised the 'Karen' issue on Twitter on Wednesday evening.

'Apparently insulting women for either being named 'Karen' and/or for being middle aged white women is fine, under Jacinda Ardern's new law.'

Another Kiwi MP, Karen Chhour urged Ms Ardern to apologise to all of New Zealand's Karens.

'My question is whether the nation's Karens will be deemed a protected group?' Ms Chhour asked. 

'Would, for instance, erasing Karens by carelessly merging them with the nation's Judiths amount to hate speech?

The New Zealand government, led by Ms Ardern, plans to include religious groups and LBGTQI communities in strengthened hate speech legislation - but not 'Karens'

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. Pictured: National Party leader Judith Collins and husband David Wong Tung

'If the Prime Minister can't explain why a scenario as basic as this would not be actionable under the laws she's proposing then she should dump the law and apologise to every Karen from the Cape to the Bluff.' 

The New Zealand government, led by Ardern, plans to include religious groups and LBGTQI communities in strengthened hate speech legislation. 

It proposes a new criminal offence for inciting violence against certain groups, and a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $50,000 fine. 

But derogatory terms such as 'Karen', with connotations that a woman is demanding or entitled, will not be included.  

David Seymour, the leader of the rightwing ACT party, has branded the proposed hate speech law as an infringement of free speech and said it will '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'.  

'The Government’s proposed hate speech laws will put cancel culture on steroids and create an even more divided society,' he said in a statement.

'These new laws will take away basic rights to free speech, shut down debate and make people too afraid to express valid opinions. The only people who win from today’s announcement are the Twitter mob and the perpetually offended.'

He added in another statement: 'The Government's new hate speech legislation will see the police pressured to interview and prosecute people with unpopular opinions.

'This won't bring about cohesion. This will divide New Zealanders, force debate underground and make ordinary people afraid to express their views.'