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Dame Jacinda Ardern on her ‘very different’ life post-politics
Dame Jacinda Ardern has revealed she didn’t resign because of burnout and says she could have kept going, in a recent interview.
The former PM went on the US talk show Good Morning America (GMA) to reflect on her career and talk about her new life outside of politics.
She was in New York to speak during the Earthshot Innovation Summit – Prince William’s environmental charity.
Ardern described her life as “very different” almost nine months after her resignation, following 15 years of working in Parliament.
“I was overwhelmed that beyond New Zealand shores it triggered a discussion about how we make these decisions, and I’ve had particularly a few women say to me ‘thank you for showing me that’s it’s okay to say I’m tired’ or ‘I don’t have enough in the tank anymore to do a job well’.”
GMA host Robin Roberts asked Ardern if she characterised her own resignation as a result of burnout, which she denied.
“I could have kept going, but for me having been through a period where we did experience a lot of crisis in New Zealand, it was whether or not I had enough to do the job well.
“The answer for me personally was no, it was time for someone else. So a bit different than burnout,” Ardern said.
She hoped her run as prime minister would inspire other future “reluctant leaders” and those “who may think they might not have the right character traits, or they see themselves as too sensitive or not tough enough”.
Ardern said they are necessary traits for leaders.
“We need more empathy in leadership, we need more kindness in leadership.”
On what life is like after politics, she described it as “very different” and that she was enjoying spending more time with her family.
Ardern said she wanted to be present for her daughter Neve, who turned five this year and started school.
“But I also still want to be useful and so, at the moment, I’m very lucky to be in Boston, I’m at Harvard.”
In April, Ardern revealed her new Harvard University post specialising in technology governance, alongside her previously announced jobs working as a special envoy to the Christchurch Call and joining the Earthshot board.
“I’ve got access to fantastic faculty but importantly inspirational students, and also working on some issues around how we safely ensure that online is a safe environment.”
Ardern said the 15 March mosque attack being livestreamed online was a first, and she now works towards trying to rid the online world of extremism and staying on top of new, emerging technology.
Jacinda Ardern on Good Morning America. Photo: ABC
Roberts told Ardern she had heard she was planning on writing a book, despite having previously signalled that she didn’t want to.
Ardern said she didn’t want to necessarily write about her political experiences and she didn’t want to betray the confidence of her friends, so instead she’s writing a few stories about her current adventures.
On what she misses the most about New Zealand and politics, she said “the people, the people are amazing”.
– This article was originally published by the New Zealand Herald
VIA RNZ
The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.
On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.
Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.
In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.
“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.
“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”
VNP / Phil Smith
Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.
That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.
“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.
Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.
Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.
The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.
Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.
Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.
“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”
Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.
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