The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern | |
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![]() Ardern in August 2022 | |
40th Prime Minister of New Zealand | |
In office 26 October 2017 – 25 January 2023 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II Charles III |
Governor-General | Patsy Reddy Cindy Kiro |
Deputy | Winston Peters Grant Robertson |
Preceded by | Bill English |
Succeeded by | Chris Hipkins |
17th Leader of the Labour Party | |
In office 1 August 2017 – 22 January 2023 | |
Deputy | Kelvin Davis |
Preceded by | Andrew Little |
Succeeded by | Chris Hipkins |
36th Leader of the Opposition | |
In office 1 August 2017 – 26 October 2017 | |
Deputy | Kelvin Davis |
Preceded by | Andrew Little |
Succeeded by | Bill English |
17th Deputy Leader of the Labour Party | |
In office 1 March 2017 – 1 August 2017 | |
Leader | Andrew Little |
Preceded by | Annette King |
Succeeded by | Kelvin Davis |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Mount Albert | |
In office 8 March 2017 – 15 April 2023 | |
Preceded by | David Shearer |
Succeeded by | Helen White |
Majority | 21,246 |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for the Labour Party List | |
In office 8 November 2008 – 8 March 2017 | |
Succeeded by | Raymond Huo |
Personal details | |
Born | Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern 26 July 1980 Hamilton, New Zealand |
Political party | Labour |
Domestic partner | Clarke Gayford (2013–present; engaged) |
Children | 1 |
Parents | Ross Ardern (father) |
Alma mater | University of Waikato (BCS) |
Dame Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern[1] GNZM (/dʒəˈsɪndə ˈɑːrdɜːrn/;[2] born 26 July 1980) is a New Zealand politician. She was the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand and the Leader of the Labour Party from October 2017 to January 2023. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2008. She was the member of Parliament (MP) for Mount Albert from 2017 to 2023.[3]
Ardern was born in Hamilton and grew up in Morrinsville and Murupara. After graduating from the University of Waikato in 2001, Ardern began her career working as a researcher for Prime Minister Helen Clark. She later worked in London in the Cabinet Office, and was elected president of the International Union of Socialist Youth.[4][5] Ardern was first elected as an MP in the 2008 general election, when Labour lost control after nine years. She was later elected to represent the Mount Albert electorate in a by-election in February 2017.
Ardern was elected Deputy Leader of the Labour Party on 1 March 2017, after the resignation of Annette King. Just five months later, after Labour's leader Andrew Little resignation, Ardern was elected as party leader.[6] She led her party to win 14 seats at the 2017 general election on 23 September, winning 46 seats to the National Party's 56.[7] After working with New Zealand First, a minority coalition government with Labour and New Zealand First was formed, supported by the Green Party. Ardern became Prime Minister and she was sworn in by the governor-general on 26 October 2017.[8] She became the world's youngest female head of government at age 37.[9] Ardern later became the world's second elected head of government to give birth while in office when her daughter was born in June 2018.[10]
Ardern calls herself a social democrat and a progressive.[11][12] Her government has focused on the New Zealand housing crisis, child poverty, and social inequality. In March 2019, she became popular because of her leadership during the Christchurch mosque shootings and for introducing strict gun laws in response. For much of 2020, she also became popular for the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ardern led the Labour Party to a historic victory in the 2020 general election, winning a majority of 65 seats in Parliament.
In January 2023, Ardern announced she would resign as Labour leader and prime minister within a few weeks.[13] She left office on 25 January and was replaced by Chris Hipkins.[14]
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