Speaking from the heart (and bringing her baby to the UN) helped turn Jacinda Ardern into a global icon of the left. But at home in New Zealand she struggled to prove her leadership extended beyond crisis management and kindness.
Jacinda Ardern put New Zealand on the map in her five years as prime minister, becoming a global icon for left-leaning politics and women in leadership, even as she struggled at home with the economy and COVID-19 restrictions.
The 42-year-old, who gained attention for bringing her baby to a UN meeting and wearing a hijab after the Christchurch massacre that targeted Muslims, announced she will step down in less than three weeks, saying she had “no more in the tank”.
