New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s popularity is so widespread that it has created its own phenomenon: ‘Jacindamania.’ Since her election in 2017, she has drawn admiration from across the world and has largely increased New Zealand’s international exposure. Her calm and compassionate response to crises such as the Christchurch Massacre and COVID-19 have resulted in resounding praise both at home and worldwide. Australians have a special admiration for her, with many of us looking on with envy at her empathetic yet effective leadership style.
Even at a young age, Ardern was passionate about political change, founding activist groups in high school where she was voted ‘most likely to become prime minister’ by her classmates. She grew up in Morrinsville, a tiny farming town on New Zealand’s North Island, and was raised a Mormon. However, as she grew older, she struggled with the Mormon opposition to same-sex marriage and eventually renounced the faith to become an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. In 2018, Ardern became the first New Zealand prime minister to attend a Pride March, further cementing her status as a progressive leader.
As with many female leaders across the world, Ardern’s ability to withstand trying times was heavily questioned following her election. Concerns were levelled at her charisma and compassion, which were seen as merely an act to veil an ineffective leader. Criticisms rang out: yes, she’s likeable, but can she get the job done? In every possible way, she has proven that she in fact can, and to a standard that is applauded worldwide.
Ardern’s ability to effectively manage crises while remaining compassionate have set her apart from most of the world’s politicians. In 2019, she faced her first major challenge; the Christchurch mosque shootings that killed 51 people. The footage was live-streamed on social media and this horrific viewing shocked the world. Ardern’s address to the nation exuded compassion and sorrow; mourning with the families affected and promising to cover funeral costs for all victims. She confidently identified racism as the motive behind the attacks, a topic often avoided by politicians, and expressed solidarity with the Muslim community. Her powerful words were quickly transformed into action when she enacted immediate change to gun laws by banning military style semi-automatic rifles. This was a rare demonstration of unanimous support across Parliament. The new laws were widely praised, with Ardern expressing that they represent the victims who “do not have a voice.”
COVID-19 proved yet another challenge that Ardern handled with both toughness and empathy. Starting to see a theme here? Her messages throughout the pandemic resonated with New Zealanders much like her address in the wake of the Christchurch shootings. Her calm words emitted the feeling of ‘we’re all in this together,’ encouraging solidarity and support. New Zealand’s lockdown laws were some of the strictest in the world, far more so than in countries such as Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, despite having very few cases. However, these were not looked upon as tyrannical and oppressive measures, likely due to Ardern’s consistent communication throughout COVID-19. Ardern sought to keep the public informed of every new development, which assisted in eradicating the fear of the unknown that often accompanies crises such as these. One of these updates involved Ardern broadcasting in a sweatshirt after putting her toddler to bed; her casual manner something we do not see emulated by leaders such as Scott Morrison or Donald Trump. In fact, Vogue Magazine gave Ardern the title of “the Anti-Trump” due to her forward-thinking and progressive attitude.
In 2018, Ardern became the second world leader to give birth while holding office, the first being former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto almost 30 years ago. During the 2017 election, Ardern was repeatedly questioned about her plans for pregnancy, seen by some as a factor that could affect her ability to fulfil her role. As such, there was a noticeable feeling of anxiety among the well-wishes following the pregnancy announcement. Ardern expertly shut down critics with one skilful statement; “I’m just pregnant, not incapacitated.”
The key aspect that makes Ardern’s leadership style so effective is that it is uniquely feminine. She has not succumbed to the pressure, as many politicians and even women working in male-dominated industries do, to alter her personality. It is difficult to resist the temptation to adapt to what everyone else in your industry, which in politics is disproportionately men, is doing to achieve success. Ardern however has not had to resort to a typically male style of leadership to be effective. She is able to be heard without shouting and her compassion and empathy have proven to be two of her major strengths as a leader.
