Jacinda Ardern: A Leader’s Overseas Experience Shapes Her Perspective
In 2019, when Stephen Colbert visited New Zealand, he was greeted by none other than the country’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. The two filmed a segment in her car, singing "Bohemian Rhapsody" and meeting with locals. At the time, Ardern was in her thirties and had just become the youngest Prime Minister in New Zealand’s history. Her popularity was soaring, with many hailing her as a liberal media darling and an icon of the global anti-Trump resistance. This was a time when her leadership style and charisma had drawn comparisons to Barack Obama, with many viewing her as the "Obama of the antipodes," as reported by The New Yorker.
Ardern’s rise to fame was swift, and her response to the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings cemented her reputation as a leader who could bring people together. She gave a poignant speech and called for an assault-weapons ban, which was passed. In contrast, US President Donald Trump’s response to similar tragedies was widely criticized. At the U.N. General Assembly, Trump’s rambling speech was met with skepticism, while Ardern’s presence, alongside her fiancé Clark Gayford and their newborn daughter, was seen as a beacon of hope. As The New Yorker noted, "After a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Obama gave a poignant speech and called for an assault-weapons ban, which didn’t pass; after a mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, Ardern gave a poignant speech and called for an assault-weapons ban, which did."
However, Ardern’s popularity waned during the COVID-19 pandemic, as New Zealand’s lockdowns became increasingly draconian. Protesters set up camp outside Parliament, and her approval ratings plummeted. In 2023, she declined to run for a third term, citing exhaustion and a desire to focus on her family. Since then, she has taken on a fellowship at Harvard’s Kennedy School and written a memoir, "A Different Kind of Power." The book is a reflection of her time in office and her experiences as a leader. As Ardern told The New Yorker, "I no longer have enough in the tank."
Ardern’s overseas experience, which she gained in 2005, has had a lasting impact on her perspective. She spent time sleeping on a friend’s couch in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and volunteered at a soup kitchen. She also browsed bookstores, read inventory she couldn’t afford to buy, and developed a love for a local bialy shop. This experience shaped her views on social and economic issues and informed her policy decisions as Prime Minister. As she recalled to The New Yorker, "There was also a bialy place I absolutely fell in love with… And I got this" – an earring in her tragus, a memento of her time in New York.
Ardern’s time in New York also influenced her love of literature and poetry. She visited the Strand Bookstore, where her own book was displayed, and browsed the poetry section. She was spotted reading classics by Pablo Neruda and Wisława Szymborska, authors known for their powerful words and perspectives on social justice. Her love of literature and poetry has been a lifelong passion, and one that she believes has helped shape her approach to politics. As The New Yorker observed, "Once the anti-Trump, always the anti-Trump."
Today, Ardern lives in Cambridge with her husband, Clark Gayford, and their six-year-old daughter, Neve. She has taken on a new role at Harvard’s Kennedy School, where she is using her experience to inform and shape the next generation of leaders. Her memoir and documentary offer a glimpse into her life as a leader and the challenges she faced. As she reflected to The New Yorker, "The doco isn’t the most fun thing for me to watch… I’m glad it exists, for posterity, but I’m not sure how eager I am to rewatch it."
In conclusion, Jacinda Ardern’s overseas experience has had a lasting impact on her perspective and approach to politics. Her time in New York shaped her views on social and economic issues and informed her policy decisions as Prime Minister. As a leader, she has demonstrated a commitment to social justice and a passion for literature and poetry. Her memoir and documentary offer a unique glimpse into her life as a leader and the challenges she faced. As The New Yorker reported, Ardern’s story serves as a reminder that even the most powerful leaders are shaped by their experiences and perspectives.
