The Prime Minister's phrase "they are us" has taken out the 2019 Massey University Quote of the Year competition.

Jacinda Ardern made the comment in the aftermath of the Christchurch mosque shootings, in which 51 people were killed after a gunman attacked two mosques on March 15. 

In second was "Hello Brother" - what a shooting victim at the Al Noor Mosque said to the alleged gunman, heard on the livestream the gunman used to broadcast his words to the world. 

Massey speech writing lecturer Dr Heather Kavan says Jacinda Ardern's words resonated with people emotionally.

"What's interesting is that she wrote those three words spontaneously, so there's a complete match between her emotions and the words."

However, the Prime Minister's quote didn't win by a big margin.

"It got 20 per cent of the votes, and the runner up got 18 per cent. The top three quotes were neck and neck the whole way through."

Green MP Chloe Swarbrick's "Okay, boomer", which has become a popular global putdown aimed at baby boomers, came in third.

Last year, National Party leader Simon Bridges won after accidentally calling his deputy Paula Bennett 'Paula Benefit'. 

2019 Quote of the Year finalists (in no particular order):

1. "Hello Brother." – Shooting victim Haji-Daoud Nabi's last words to the gunman at the Al Noor mosque entrance.
2. "We are broken hearted, but we are not broken." – Imam Gamal Fouda of Al Noor mosque after the Christchurch terrorist attacks.
3. "They are us." – Jacinda Ardern speaking about Muslim victims of the Christchurch terrorist attack, in the aftermath of the killings.
4. "I think the doves are rising up." – Actor Lucy Lawless on the School Fight for Climate.
5. "He's about as welcome as diarrhoea in a wetsuit in that place." – Greenpeace's Russell Norman on pro-coal Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison attending the forum on climate change at Tuvalu.
6. "There is scientific evidence that shows it makes me faster. It was done at Harvard, I think.'' – All Black Jack Goodhue on why he is keeping his mullet haircut.
7. "We're going to a super over! You are kidding me! You are kidding me!" – Ian Smith's exuberant commentary at the Cricket World Cup final.
8. "Just imagine if Colonel Sanders gave up the first time he wanted funding for his recipe. We would not have had that succulent chicken." – Destiny Church's Hannah Tamaki when asked how her new political party would raise funds.
9. "You can't consent to murder." – Crown Solicitor Brian Dickey summing up the Grace Millane murder case.
10. "Okay, boomer." – Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick dismissing 51-year-old National MP Todd Muller's interruption during her climate change speech in Parliament.