Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, announced on Thursday that she would leave office on February 7 after five and a half years. Her tenure as Prime Minister was marked by a horrific mass shooting and the outbreak of Coronavirus, which earned her praise from around the world. However, Ardern’s announcement came as a shock to many.
A New Generation of Leadership & Center-left Victories in a Populist World
As a world leader, Ardern became only the second to give birth while holding office in 2018. This broke barriers for women in politics and sent a message that motherhood and leadership are not mutually exclusive.
As right-wing populism rose globally, Ardern notched up center-left victories. During her tenure as Prime Minister, she pushed through a bill to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, oversaw the banning of assault weapons, and effectively kept the Coronavirus out of New Zealand for 18 months.
Dark Days and Empathetic Responses
A gunman attacked two mosques in Christchurch during Friday prayers in March 2019, one of the darkest days in New Zealand’s history. The compassionate response of Ardern to survivors and New Zealand’s Muslim community was widely praised. She quickly moved to pass new laws banning the deadliest types of semi-automatic weapons, and a subsequent buyback scheme run by police saw more than 50,000 guns, including many AR-15-style rifles, destroyed.
Less than nine months after the shooting, Ardern faced another tragedy when 22 tourists and guides were killed when the White Island volcano erupted. Despite these challenges, Ardern’s leadership was widely praised for its empathetic and compassionate approach.
Handling of the Coronavirus Pandemic
After New Zealand stopped the Coronavirus for months at its borders, Ardern was also praised for how her country handled the pandemic. As more contagious variants spread and vaccines became widely available, she abandoned that zero-tolerance strategy. A growing number of people opposed to the mandates and rules concerning Coronavirus grew angry at Ardern at home, and a three-week-long protest ensued.
Despite these challenges, Ardern’s approach to the pandemic has been widely praised for its effectiveness in controlling the virus’s spread and protecting New Zealanders’ health and well-being.
A Royal Commission of Inquiry
Last month, Ardern announced that a Royal Commission of Inquiry would look into whether COVID-19 was handled correctly and how the government could prepare better for future pandemics. A report is due next year. This further highlights Ardern’s commitment to continuous improvement and learning, even in the face of criticism and challenges.
A Legacy of Empathy and Compassion
Jacinda Ardern’s tenure as Prime Minister of New Zealand will be remembered as a legacy of empathy and compassion. Her leadership broke barriers for women in politics, and her empathetic and compassionate approach to leadership was a refreshing change in a world where right-wing populism was rising.
Despite the challenges she faced, her leadership will be remembered for its effectiveness in controlling the coronavirus spread and protecting New Zealanders’ health and well-being. Ardern’s departure from office will be a significant loss for the Labour Party, and many will be watching to see who will step up to fill her shoes as the leader of New Zealand.
