Jacinda Ardern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dame Jacinda Ardern
GNZM
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Ardern in 2018
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| 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand | |
| In office 26 October 2017 – 25 January 2023 |
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| Monarch | |
| Governor-General | |
| Deputy | |
| Preceded by | Bill English |
| Succeeded by | Chris Hipkins |
| 17th Leader of the Labour Party | |
| In office 1 August 2017 – 22 January 2023 |
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| Deputy | Kelvin Davis |
| Preceded by | Andrew Little |
| Succeeded by | Chris Hipkins |
| 36th Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 1 August 2017 – 26 October 2017 |
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| Deputy | Kelvin Davis |
| Preceded by | Andrew Little |
| Succeeded by | Bill English |
| 17th Deputy Leader of the Labour Party | |
| In office 7 March 2017 – 1 August 2017 |
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| Leader | Andrew Little |
| Preceded by | Annette King |
| Succeeded by | Kelvin Davis |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Mount Albert |
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| In office 8 March 2017 – 15 April 2023 |
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| Preceded by | David Shearer |
| Succeeded by | Helen White |
| Majority | 21,246 |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for the Labour party list |
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| In office 8 November 2008 – 8 March 2017 |
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| Succeeded by | Raymond Huo |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern
26 July 1980 Hamilton, New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse |
Clarke Gayford
(m. 2024) |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent |
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| Alma mater | University of Waikato (BCS) |
Dame Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern (born 26 July 1980) is a New Zealand politician. She was the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand and leader of the Labour Party from 2017 to 2023. She was also a member of Parliament (MP) for Mount Albert from 2017 to 2023. Before that, she was a list MP from 2008 to 2017.
Jacinda Ardern was born in Hamilton and grew up in Morrinsville and Murupara. She joined the Labour Party when she was 17. After finishing university in 2001, she worked for Prime Minister Helen Clark. Later, she worked in London for the UK government. In 2008, she became president of the International Union of Socialist Youth.
Ardern was first elected as an MP in 2008. In 2017, she became the deputy leader of the Labour Party. Just five months later, she became the leader of the party. Labour's support quickly grew, and she led them to win 46 seats in the 2017 election. After talks, Labour formed a government with New Zealand First, supported by the Green Party. Jacinda Ardern became Prime Minister on 26 October 2017. At 37, she was the world's youngest female head of government. In 2018, she became the second elected head of government to give birth while in office.
Ardern describes herself as a social democrat and a progressive. Her government worked on issues like the New Zealand housing crisis, child poverty, and social inequality. She gained international recognition for her response to the Christchurch mosque shootings in 2019, quickly introducing strict gun laws. She also led New Zealand's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was praised for successfully containing the virus. In the 2020 election, she led the Labour Party to a huge victory, winning a majority of seats in Parliament.
On 19 January 2023, Ardern announced she would resign as Labour leader and Prime Minister. She stepped down on 25 January 2023, and Chris Hipkins became her successor.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jacinda Ardern was born on 26 July 1980 in Hamilton. She spent her childhood in Morrinsville and Murupara. Her father, Ross Ardern, was a police officer, and her mother, Laurell Ardern, worked at a school. Jacinda was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She went to Morrinsville College and worked at a local fish-and-chip shop.
She joined the Labour Party when she was 17. Her aunt, Marie Ardern, who was a long-time Labour member, encouraged her to help with election campaigns.
Ardern studied at the University of Waikato and graduated in 2001. She earned a degree in politics and public relations. After university, she worked for New Zealand politicians Phil Goff and Helen Clark. She also volunteered at a soup kitchen in New York City. In 2006, she moved to London, England. There, she worked as a senior policy adviser for the UK government under Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Early Political Career
President of International Union of Socialist Youth
On 30 January 2008, when she was 27, Ardern was chosen as the president of the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY). This role meant she spent time in many countries, including Hungary, Jordan, and China. She held this position for two years, even after she became an MP.
Member of Parliament
| New Zealand Parliament | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
| 2008–2011 | 49th | List | 20 | Labour |
| 2011–2014 | 50th | List | 13 | Labour |
| 2014–2017 | 51st | List | 5 | Labour |
| 2017 | 51st | Mount Albert | Labour | |
| 2017–2020 | 52nd | Mount Albert | 1 | Labour |
| 2020–present | 53rd | Mount Albert | 1 | Labour |
Before the 2008 election, Ardern was placed high on Labour's party list. This meant she was almost certain to get a seat in Parliament. She returned from London to campaign. She became a list MP, which means she got into Parliament based on her party's overall vote, not by winning a specific local area. When she was elected, she became the youngest MP in Parliament.
As an MP, she became Labour's spokesperson for Youth Affairs. She also appeared on TVNZ's Breakfast show.
In the 2011 election, Ardern ran for the Auckland Central seat but lost. However, she still returned to Parliament through the party list. After the Labour leader resigned, Ardern was promoted to a senior role in the party's team.
She ran for Auckland Central again in the 2014 election and again came second. She continued to be an MP through the party list. She became the Labour Party's spokesperson for Justice, Children, and Arts & Culture.
Mount Albert By-election
In February 2017, Ardern decided to run in the Mount Albert by-election. This election was held because the previous MP had resigned. Ardern was the only person to put her name forward for the Labour Party. She won the election by a large number of votes.
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
After winning the by-election, Ardern was chosen as the deputy leader of the Labour Party on 7 March 2017. This happened after the previous deputy leader resigned.
Leader of the Opposition
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On 1 August 2017, just seven weeks before the 2017 general election, Jacinda Ardern became the leader of the Labour Party. This also made her the Leader of the Opposition. The previous leader, Andrew Little, stepped down because the party's support was very low in opinion polls. Ardern was chosen as the new leader without anyone opposing her. At 37, she became the youngest leader of the Labour Party ever.
After she became leader, Labour's support in opinion polls increased very quickly. By late August, the party's support had almost doubled. Some people said that Labour's sudden rise in popularity was because of Ardern's youth and appearance.
During the election campaign, Ardern faced some criticism. Farmers protested against proposed water and pollution taxes. One farmer held a sign that was seen as disrespectful towards her.
2017 General Election
The general election was held on 23 September 2017. Ardern won her local seat in Mount Albert. Labour increased its share of votes and gained 14 seats in Parliament. This was the party's best result since 2008.
Neither Labour nor the National Party won enough seats to govern alone. They had to talk with other parties to form a government. New Zealand First decided to form a government with Labour. This meant Jacinda Ardern would become the next Prime Minister.
Prime Minister (2017–2023)
First Term (2017–2020)
On 19 October 2017, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters agreed to form a government with Labour. The Green Party also supported this government. Ardern became Prime Minister, and Winston Peters became her deputy. She was officially sworn in on 26 October.
Ardern is New Zealand's third female Prime Minister. She is also the youngest person to become New Zealand's head of government since 1856. On 19 January 2018, Ardern announced she was pregnant. Winston Peters took over as acting Prime Minister for six weeks after her daughter was born on 21 June 2018.
Domestic Affairs
Ardern promised to reduce child poverty in New Zealand by half within ten years. In July 2018, her government started the Families Package. This package increased paid parental leave and gave payments to low and middle-income families. The government also started a school lunches program to help reduce child poverty. Other efforts included increasing welfare benefits and providing free period products in schools.
Her government also increased the country's minimum wage. They invested in projects for rural areas. The first year of university education became free from 2018. Teachers' pay was also increased.
In 2018, Ardern visited Waitangi for five days, which was a longer visit than usual for a Prime Minister. Her visit was well-received by Māori leaders.
Foreign Affairs
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In November 2017, Ardern made her first official trip overseas to Australia. She met with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. They discussed improving relations between the two countries. In 2020, Ardern spoke out against Australia's policy of deporting New Zealanders.
Ardern attended international meetings like the APEC summit and a United Nations summit. She also met with Queen Elizabeth II. After meeting with Donald Trump, she said the US President was interested in New Zealand's gun buyback programme. Ardern also raised concerns about human rights issues in China and Myanmar.
In 2018, Ardern attended a United Nations meeting with her baby, becoming the first female head of government to do so. She spoke about the importance of the United Nations, supporting young people, and addressing climate change.
Christchurch Mosque Shootings
On 15 March 2019, a terrible terrorist attack happened in two mosques in Christchurch. 51 people were killed. Ardern quickly responded, calling it a terrorist attack and offering her condolences. She then rapidly introduced strict new gun laws.
COVID-19 Pandemic
On 14 March 2020, Ardern announced that anyone entering New Zealand would need to self-isolate for 14 days. She said these were the "toughest border restrictions of any country in the world." On 19 March, New Zealand's borders were closed to most non-citizens. Ardern then announced a nationwide lockdown starting on 25 March.
Media around the world praised Ardern's leadership and quick response to the pandemic. Her regular use of press conferences and social media was called a "masterclass in crisis communication." It is believed that her government's actions saved many lives.
After the lockdown, opinion polls showed the Labour Party had nearly 60 percent support. Ardern's popularity as Prime Minister reached a record high.
Second Term (2020–2023)
In the 2020 general election, Ardern led her party to a huge victory. Labour won a majority of 65 seats in Parliament. She also won her local Mount Albert seat by a large number of votes. Ardern said her victory was due to her government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Domestic Affairs
On 2 December 2020, Ardern declared a climate change emergency in New Zealand. She promised that the government would be carbon neutral by 2025. This means the public sector would buy only electric or hybrid vehicles and stop using coal-fired boilers.
Her government also introduced new rules to help with housing costs. These included changes to tax deductions for rental properties and help for first-time home buyers.
On 14 June 2021, Ardern announced that the New Zealand Government would formally apologize for the Dawn Raids. These raids in the 1970s and 1980s unfairly targeted Pasifika people.
In September 2022, Ardern led the country's tributes after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. She described the Queen as an "incredible woman" and a "constant in our lives." Ardern also said that New Zealand might become a republic in the future.
In December 2022, Ardern was recorded calling another politician an "arrogant prick" during Parliament. She later apologized, and they worked together to raise money for charity by auctioning a signed copy of her remark.
COVID-19 and Vaccination Programme
In December 2020, Ardern announced that New Zealand and the Cook Islands would create a travel bubble, allowing people to travel between them without quarantine. She also confirmed a travel bubble with Australia for the following year. Ardern announced that the government had bought more COVID-19 vaccines for New Zealand and its Pacific neighbours.
In January 2021, Ardern stated that New Zealand's borders would stay closed until citizens were vaccinated. The vaccination programme began in February 2021. In August 2021, a new outbreak led to another nationwide lockdown.
In January 2022, Ardern had to self-isolate after being a close contact of a COVID-19 case. In May 2022, she tested positive for COVID-19 herself.
Foreign Affairs
In December 2020, Ardern supported Australia in a disagreement with China. She said that a Chinese official's social media post was not true.
In February 2021, Ardern criticized Australia for taking away the citizenship of a dual New Zealand–Australian national. She said Australia was not meeting its responsibilities. The two leaders later agreed to work together on the issue.
In May 2021, Ardern hosted Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. They discussed cooperation on COVID-19, relations, and security in the Pacific. They also raised concerns about human rights in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
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In May 2022, Ardern visited the United States. She met with US President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris. They talked about strengthening relations between the two countries. Ardern also spoke about gun control measures, using New Zealand's ban on semi-automatic firearms as an example. She received an honorary degree from Harvard University.
In June 2022, Ardern visited the new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. They discussed issues like Australia's deportation policy and Chinese influence in the Pacific.
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In June 2022, Ardern attended the NATO's Leader Summit. This was the first time New Zealand had formally spoken at a NATO event.
In August 2022, Ardern visited Samoa to celebrate 60 years of Samoa's independence. She discussed climate change and economic support with the Samoan Prime Minister.
In November 2022, Ardern attended the East Asia Summit in Cambodia. She met with US President Biden to discuss infant formula supply. She also hosted Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin in New Zealand.
Resignation
On 19 January 2023, Jacinda Ardern announced that she would resign as Labour leader and Prime Minister. She said she no longer had "enough in the tank" to do the job justice and wanted to spend more time with her family. She left Parliament in April 2023.
Her announcement led to many reactions from politicians and public figures in New Zealand and overseas. Many thanked her for her service. On 25 January, Chris Hipkins became the new Prime Minister.
Post-Premiership
On 4 April 2023, Ardern was announced as a trustee of the Earthshot Prize. This prize supports solutions for environmental problems. Prince William chose her for the role.
She was also appointed as a Special Envoy for the Christchurch Call. This initiative, which she started, aims to fight extremist content online. Ardern also accepted fellowships at Harvard Kennedy School to share her leadership skills and study online extremism.
In August 2024, Ardern supported US Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential campaign. She spoke about women in politics and positive campaigning. Her memoir, A Different Kind of Power, is expected to be released in June 2025.
Political Views
Ardern describes herself as a social democrat, a progressive, a republican, and a feminist. She has said that child poverty and homelessness in New Zealand show a "blatant failure" of capitalism. She believes that taking action on climate change is very important, like New Zealand's nuclear-free policy.
Ardern believes that Māori people should decide whether Māori electorates (special seats in Parliament for Māori) should continue to exist. She also supports making the Māori language a required subject in schools.
She has said that New Zealand should consider removing the monarch of New Zealand as its head of state. However, she has also said that her personal views do not change her respect for the Royal Family.
Ardern supports a lower rate of immigration to New Zealand. She believes that there hasn't been enough planning for population growth. However, she wants to increase the number of refugees taken in by New Zealand.
In foreign affairs, Ardern supports a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. She has also spoken out against violence in the region.
After a court ruling in November 2022, Ardern supported lowering the voting age to 16 years old.
Honours and Awards
Ardern was featured on the cover of British Vogue in September 2019. Forbes magazine has often listed her among the 100 most powerful women in the world. She was also included in the 2019 Time 100 list.
In 2021, a flightless wētā species was named Hemiandrus jacinda in her honour. A beetle, a lichen, and an ant have also been named after her.
In May 2021, Fortune magazine named Ardern the top leader in the world. They praised her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and her response to the Christchurch mosque shootings.
On 26 May 2022, Harvard University gave Ardern an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for her contributions to the world.
In 2023, Ardern was appointed a Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (GNZM) for her service to the country. She received this honour from the Prince of Wales in October 2024.
In November 2024, the United Nations Foundation announced that Ardern would receive the Champion for Global Change Award. This award recognizes her empathetic leadership, her work for women's rights, and her efforts to fight climate change.
Personal Life
Religious Views
Ardern was raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand. However, she left the church in 2005 when she was 25. She said it conflicted with her personal views, especially her support for gay rights. In 2017, Ardern said she was agnostic, meaning she doesn't know if God exists.
Family
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Ardern's husband is television presenter Clarke Gayford. They met in 2012. They were living together when she became Prime Minister. In May 2019, they announced they were engaged. Their wedding was planned for January 2022 but was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak. They eventually married on 13 January 2024.
On 19 January 2018, Ardern announced she was expecting her first child. She gave birth to a daughter, Neve Te Aroha, on 21 June 2018. She was only the second elected head of government to give birth while in office. Neve's first name, Neve, means 'bright'. Her middle name, Te Aroha, is a Māori word meaning 'love'.
Images for kids
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Ardern in 2018
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Ardern, with Phil Goff and Carol Beaumont, at an anti-mining march on 1 May 2010
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Ardern campaigning at the University of Auckland in September 2017
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Ardern with then Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy at the swearing-in of the Cabinet on 26 October 2017
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Ardern with Green Party co-leader James Shaw at Victoria University of Wellington, 12 April 2018
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Ardern with US President Donald Trump, 23 September 2019
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(L–R:) South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Ardern, and Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, at the 14th East Asia Summit in Thailand, 4 November 2019
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Ardern visited members of the Muslim community at the Phillipstown Community Centre, 16 March 2019.
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Ardern with Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson and Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy at the swearing-in of the Cabinet on 6 November 2020
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Ardern (right), with the Governor-General, Dame Cindy Kiro (centre), and the Chief Justice, Dame Helen Winkelmann, at Waitangi on 22 January 2022
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Ardern delivers a speech virtually at the Singapore FinTech Festival 2020.
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Ardern meets with US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office on 31 May 2022.
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(L–R:) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Ardern, and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol at the Madrid NATO summit, 29 June 2022
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Ardern in September 2023
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Ardern speaking during the session "Safeguarding Our Planet" at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, 22 January 2019
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The lichen Ocellularia jacinda-arderniae
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Ardern with her partner Clarke Gayford (left), at a Waitangi Day event in 2018
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See also
- List of New Zealand governments
- Politics of New Zealand
- Paddles (cat), Ardern's former pet cat
