Jacinda Ardern most popular New Zealand PM in a century, poll reveals

Jacinda Ardern enforced some of the strictest virus lockdowns in the world, but instead of protesting, her subjects couldn’t be happier.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has emerged as the nation’s most popular leader in a century as voters back one of the toughest lockdowns in the world.

After she was hailed internationally for “not just flattening the curve, but crushing it,” the results suggest her unorthodox leadership style is paying political dividends.

The most stunning numbers were the results on how many New Zealanders supported the lockdown that banned swimming at the beach and only allowed families to leave their homes for groceries and medical trips for five weeks.

According to the poll, almost 92 per cent of New Zealand voters said it was the right call, including 84 per cent of National Party supporters, Ms Ardern’s political opponents.

New Zealand’s tough lockdown and Ms Ardern’s leadership has sparked international attention in recent weeks as the world discovered her success in fighting the virus.

In the Washington Post, New Zealand was hailed as “quashing the coronavirus in 49 days.”

“New Zealand isn’t just flattening the curve, it’s squashing it’’ – another US report was headlined.

But it was her homespun Facebook videos imploring New Zealanders to live in their own “bubble” and “be kind to each other” that also intrigued.

In a shock poll result that New Zealanders were warned will “blow your mind”, it’s a strategy that’s now delivering results.

Ms Ardern is now the preferred Prime Minister of 59.5 per cent of voters.

Initial results of polling by news.com.au shows she is by far the most popular world leader, with readers wanting her to “move to Australia”.

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Ms Ardern’s popularity has jumped by 20.8 points. Picture: Mark Mitchell / POOL / AFP

Since the last survey, Ms Ardern’s popularity has jumped by 20.8 points to the highest recorded by any Prime Minister in the history of the poll.

Her closest competitor, Nationals leader Simon Bridges, secured the support of just 4.5 per cent of voters.

The National Party that he leads has plummeted to 30 per cent in the first public poll since the COVID-19 crisis emerged.

Ms Ardern told NZ’s Newshub: “It speaks to the work we’ve jointly done. I just happen to have had the humble and privileged opportunity to be leading at this time.”

“The fact that I’m making no assumptions about what will be the end outcome … on election day should be a nod to that.”

It’s a meteoric rise in popularity that’s also being seen in Australia where the Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s approval rating has climbed to 66 per cent.

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s popularity has also had a boost. Picture: Rohan Thomson/Getty Images

Focus group research conducted by the Labor-aligned RedBridge Group in Victoria confirms many voters are backing their leaders in a crisis.

“The desire to see all our political leaders – regardless of party – succeed persists,’’ the COVID report states.

“Our safety is linked to their success. Voters are still willing to forgive mistakes if those mistakes are made for the right reasons.

“As such, there is just no interest in “the blame game” – it is seen as “pointless” when we should be focusing on what we need to do to survive this thing.”

Ms Ardern goes to the polls in New Zealand in October.