Working for people, not power: Ardern’s hopes for future US president

Chicago: Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has reflected on the momentum surrounding US Vice President Kamala Harris in the context of her own unexpected political rise, declaring that voters long for empathetic leadership and “crave politics being done differently”.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the former Labour Party leader – whose swift ascension has parallels to Harris’ sudden climb to the top of the US presidential ticket – also noted the significance of America potentially choosing its first female president.

Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern speaking on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.Credit: Farrah Tomazin

“Someone else carved the path for women to lead in my country,” she said, noting that three of New Zealand’s 42 prime ministers have been women. “I was not the first, so I never questioned that I could be a female and in a leadership position. What I did question was: could I be an empathetic leader? Could I be a sensitive leader?

“So I do think there’s a place for empathetic leadership, and I do think we need it now more than ever.”

Ardern’s comments came as Democrats gathered for the second day of their national convention, to rally around Harris and her running mate Tim Walz as their chosen candidates for the November presidential election.

The first night of the historic event finished with President Joe Biden officially passing the torch to his 59-year-old deputy as he prepared to end half a century of public service.

Hillary Clinton – who lost the 2016 US election to Donald Trump – also gave a rousing speech, telling the audience: “Together, we’ve put a lot of cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling.

“This is our time, America,” she added. “This is when we stand up. This is when we break through. The future is here, it’s in our grasp, let’s go win it.”

Ardern was the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and leader of the Labour Party from 2017 to 2023.

Just as Harris was catapulted to the top of the Democratic ticket after Biden withdrew from the race, Ardern became the leader of the Labour Party after then leader Andrew Little saw no pathway to victory and stepped aside weeks before the 2017 election.

And just as Harris has overseen renewed enthusiasm and seemingly unbridled “joy” within the Democratic Party, Ardern also reinvigorated her party and went on to win her country’s top job.

Speaking on a panel for a convention event by the Centre for American Progress Action Fund – an independent, non-partisan policy institute – Ardern was asked about her own experience in the context of Harris’ rise.

“No one will know what it feels like to be Kamala Harris right now,” said Ardern, who now lives in Boston. “As much as there’s a lot of commentary around the historic moment in time, and the momentum that is out there, I can only imagine that, what Kamala Harris is likely thinking each day is not ‘this is a historic moment in time’, but ‘what can I do on behalf of people?’

“And that’s the difference when you’re campaigning: because your focus is on people rather than power, you’re not lost and caught up in those moments. You are literally focused every single day on the job that you have in front of you, and you take one step at a time to get you closer to being in a position to help people.”

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