A feminist icon, a socially conscious leader and a liberal beacon of hope, Jacinda Ardern has amassed a huge amount of popularity all over the world throughout her time as the Prime Minister of New Zealand. However, whilst she’s led her country through some of its most challenging times, some would argue that she’s not all she’s cracked up to be.
Born into a Mormon family in 1980, Ardern spent her childhood in various small towns in the North Island. She later credited the poverty levels in these towns with being her inspiration for going into politics. After leaving university, she worked for a couple of years for New Zealand’s Labour Party before moving to Britain to work for 2 and a half years in the cabinet office of Tony Blair, with the primary responsibility of improving the ways in which local authorities interact with small businesses.
In October 2017, she was sworn in as New Zealand’s youngest Prime Minister for more than 150 years. With her promises to combat growing inequality (her strong beliefs in equality for all eventually led to her leaving the Mormon church), climate change and the housing crisis, she was a modern and attractive alternative to the past 9 years of conservative governance under John Key.
It didn't take her long to become an international icon, especially after the Christchurch mosque shootings, after which she was quick to tighten gun laws and condemn the shooter. Whilst in office she has also given birth to a daughter, earning her support from working mothers around the world. She refuses to accept credit for this though, crediting her husband’s willingness to take on care responsibilities as a key factor in her being able to continue with her political career.
‘I don’t want to appear to be superwoman because we should not expect women to be superwomen’
Ardern has successfully led her country through its worst ever terror attack, a deadly volcanic eruption and a pandemic, however her international popularity is not fully reflected at home. Many Kiwis feel that she has failed to fulfil key promises like ending child poverty and tackling the housing crisis. Others have taken issue with some of her more controversial policies, such as banning offshore oil exploration.
Despite that, her handling of the Covid situation in New Zealand has redeemed her in many people’s eyes, and in October 2020 she was re-elected to serve a second term in coalition with the Green Party, so it seems she’s here to stay.
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