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Pregnant, Unwed, Newbie: How NZ's Ex-PM Managed Crises
NZ's former PM says "empathy is nothing without action"; shows how.
She won praise for NZ in managing aftermath of mass shooting.
Her memoir unveils behind-the-scenes in crisis management.
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By Priscilla Wong, 06 Jun 2025
SINGAPORE - "I didn't know who she was" wrote an attendee of a Harvard course for policymakers post-session, referring to Jacinda Ardern, who was a speaker at that course.
SINGAPORE - "I didn't know who she was" wrote an attendee of a Harvard course for policymakers post-session, referring to Jacinda Ardern, who was a speaker at that course.
Ardern is in fact the Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern, who led New Zealand as Prime Minister for six years from October 2017. She resigned in February 2023, citing “burnout”.
Since June 2025, she has embarked on a press tour to promote her memoir. Titled “A Different Kind Of Power”, the book’s synopsis builds on her global popularity as a “leader with empathy”.
Elected at age 37, Ardern was then the youngest Prime Minister in modern times, and the first female Prime Minister to give birth while in office.
In her memoir, Ardern described her situation then.
"I was pregnant and unwed. I was also new to the job." But she made being "new" different.
In September 2018, Ardern made history by being the first to bring a baby to the United Nations general assembly meeting. Photos from that session went viral on social media, drawing praise from women.
Photo / Reuters
In the aftermath of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings, a photograph of her consoling a victim’s family member was beamed on the Burj Khalifa in Dubai – the world’s tallest building – in recognition of her high profile support of Muslims.
This visual was later posted on social media by Sheik Mohammed, Prime Minister and Vice-President of the UAE, and Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai:
“New Zealand today fell silent in honour of the mosque attacks' martyrs. Thank you PM @jacindaardern and New Zealand for your sincere empathy and support that has won the respect of 1.5 billion Muslims after the terrorist attack that shook the Muslim community around the world.”
Screenshot / X.com/hhshkmohd
However, home ground polls revealed her waning popularity towards the end of her term. High housing prices, fears about growing crime levels, and unfulfilled election promises grew domestic critics.
Social media comments reflected the impact of Ardern’s term, including that from @bethowens8863 on YouTube:
“She has been an incredible crisis leader and has been willing to make tough decisions where needed. But constant disruption throughout these past six years has made it difficult for her govt. to grasp governing during 'normal times'. The fact is, the transformational politics she promised simply didn't eventuate.
The power of her response came not only from her warm physical embrace of the survivors and families of victims, but also from symbolic gestures such as wearing the hijab and refusing to use the name of the chief suspect. This was backed up with the right messaging and followed swiftly with practical measures, such as new gun legislation.”
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