Full Breakdown
Leaked Audio Shows Labour Party's “Duck-Faced Horse” Question at Wellington Conference
5/24/2026, 8:16:16 AM
The Unusual Question at the Wellington Conference
During Labour’s regional Wellington conference this weekend, a session asked participants to interpret a deliberately confusing query described as a “duck-faced horse.” The apparent aim of the exercise was to let speakers “discredit their opponents and promote Labour values,” according to the recording. The audio was anonymously sent to the *Herald*, RNZ, Stuff, TVNZ and other outlets. Labour leader Chris Hipkins was not on the recording.
Participants' Answers
Health spokeswoman Dr Ayesha Verrall answered in a parody of “Old Town Road,” singing “I’m gonna take my duck to the old town pond… I’m gonna ride till I can’t no more.” Wellington Bays candidate Kieran McAnulty likened the challenge to “100 duck-sized horses” and warned that “horses are full of shit,” before asserting that “the people … far outnumber … duck-shaped horses.” Former minister Barbara Edmonds described weekly parliamentary questioning of a “duck-faced horse,” saying the tactic helps “knock down … senior ones.” MP Greg O’Connor reflected on the previous government, noting the need for a “go-to person” with deep institutional knowledge. Economist Craig Renney added that the last Labour government “saved 20,000 lives.”
Official Response and Apology
Barbara Edmonds later told the *Herald* that she “clearly got it wrong,” that the question was “muddled,” and that she “apologise[s] if it offended anyone.” The recording did not include a statement from Labour leader Chris Hipkins.
Criticism and Concerns
Participants and the moderator noted that the phrasing was ambiguous and risked offending listeners. Edmonds’ apology highlighted internal unease about the question’s muddled wording.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The recording does not capture the exact wording of the original query, and participants repeatedly asked “did I get that right?” indicating uncertainty. The audio was sent anonymously, and the identity of the leaker has not been disclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’m gonna take my duck to the old town pond.” — Dr Ayesha Verrall
- “We are up against 100 duck-sized horses at the moment,” — Kieran McAnulty
- “I believe one of the ways that we can fight those 100 or the big ones [in Government] is you actually need to discredit them as a caucus and as a group.” — Barbara Edmonds
- “So always for Labour, putting people first means that our economy will be stronger.” — Barbara Edmonds
Implications for Labour
The incident highlights the difficulty of managing spontaneous, humor-laden questioning in a high-stakes campaign environment and may test Labour’s messaging discipline ahead of the November election.
