I just read Jacinda Ardern's memoir. No wonder she didn't last
But by page 60, I've cried twice. By the book's end, I've laughed, wept and was extremely proud of Neve, the child of Ardern and husband Clarke Gayford. Born in Ardern's first year as prime minister and who must be close to seven now, Neve asks her mother what we all really wanted to know: Why did she leave her job as prime minister after six years?
One thing is clear in this book. Ardern does not shy away from talking about the emotional impact of leading a nation through a massacre, through floods, through the COVID-19 pandemic, through the insanity of conspiracy theorists. That cumulative burden is the reason – but not the only reason.
'Women shouldn't have to choose – the way our mothers so often did – between being good at their profession and being a good mother, or daughter,' she writes. 'There should be support networks, a village, whatever you call it, that can help them be all of those things without completely losing themselves in the process.'
It is surprising to me, though, that the book does not really detail the relentless hatred to which Ardern was subjected, particularly after the pandemic. As New Zealand academic Suze Wilson has documented over time: 'A troubling feature of the commentary about New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has been its abusive, violent, sexist and misogynistic tenor.' There is the odd anecdote, a particularly useless male politician, trying to get Ardern to weigh in on gender, a number of people making irrelevant comments about her appearance, media commentators.
But don't think for one minute that Ardern is all sweetness and light. She doesn't criticise too many people, but for David Seymour, she makes an exception. She is no fan of Seymour, New Zealand's freshly appointed deputy prime minister. He leads the ACT Party, a kind of libertarian hotchpotch. Her first real interaction with him is in 2022 when he caves in to the requests of a 'freedom' convoy to meet with a politician. Ardern has already refused. Her view? 'How could I send a message that if you disagree with something, you can illegally occupy the grounds of parliament and then have your demands met?'
Later, she writes, he was the only MP to vote against banning semi-automatic weapons after the mosque massacres.
But in the months after the convoy, after a rowdy question time in parliament, her press secretary, Andrew Campbell, comes to her office: 'So, today in the House when you sat down after your questions ended, it seems your mic was still on ... and it seems to have picked up your voice as you called David Seymour an arrogant prick.'
Loading
Phew, she thinks. In her mind, she called him much worse.
I'm surprised at how well written it is, how it balances humour and pathos, kindness and hardiness – and I can't find a hint of a ghostwriter, although many thanks to editors. But after reading this, I'm not surprised she gave up after six years. Too hard for anyone really human.
She has advice though for people who want to be politicians. It's about humility, empathy and more.
'The things you thought would cripple you will in fact make you stronger, make you better. They will give you a different kind of power, and make you a leader that this world, with all its turmoil, might just need.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
7 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Calls to halt Daniel Andrews' statue over ‘unresolved allegations'
Victorian Shadow Energy and Resources Minister David Davis commented on plans for a statue of former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, arguing the move is premature due to unresolved allegations stemming from his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. 'A lot of it was based on a lie, it was just a lie, the problem is he claimed it was health advice and it wasn't,' Mr Davis told Sky News Australia. 'We would all say if you actually followed the health advice, we would have had a different outcome.'
The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Night economy boost for Hunter bars and clubs as state grants leave Sydney for first time
Venue owners in Newcastle's Midtown precinct between Steel and Union streets say the injection of almost $800,000 in state grants will help launch more vibrant events like the West Best Bloc Fest to boost the city's nightlife. The state will funnel around $770,000 into three inner city venue collectives, including Midtown - a group of around seven members; the East End group, and the villages of the Throsby basin, as well as the Shoaly Collective at Shoal Bay, to promote inter-venue cooperation. It represents the third round of the state government's Uptown grants program, and the first time that regional venues outside of Sydney have been beneficiaries. The Hunter's slice comes from a pie of some $5.5 million in state funding aimed at growing a 24-hour hospitality and entertainment economy. Midtown venue owners say they will use their allotment to bring in a local coordinator who can leverage opportunities for venues to cooperate on larger-scale events while remaining "authentic to Newcastle". "This night-time economy is going to boom from this little hit," Mad Poet owner Dylan Oakes said. As the landscape of the city's hospitality economy changes in the long shadow of lockout laws, COVID, a cost-of-living crisis and increases to supply costs, venue owners say coordinating with their neighbours has helped them navigate rolling headwinds. "The Midtown project is not to give us any more sugar rushes," Bernie's Bar venue manager Patrick Fisher said. "We have Saturday night for that. We're here to boost the long-term prospects of the precinct. "And by having a year-long coordinator, we think we will be really well placed to do that." Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp, who announced the grant winners on Friday afternoon, said the funding follows legislative changes to better mediate between venues looking to capitalise on a vibrant nighttime economy and residents living in those precincts. "In certain precincts where there are bars and restaurants and clubs, there will be music and clatter and noise. That is a good, vibrant 24-hour economy. That's what we want. But people need to know that precinct is where it's going to happen." "(Newcastle) is not a retirement village. It's the second biggest city in the state ... It's all part of a vibrant and active city, and people understand that. And if they don't know, they need to certainly do a bit of research before they move in." Grace Frey, a director of Bernie's Bar, said years of disruptions to the city's going-out economy had changed its make-up, but said the injection of state funding would help smaller, niche venues compete and meet patron needs. Nighttime Economy Minister John Graham said the funding would help collectives generate "self-sustaining" initiatives to boost local offerings and promote the visitor economy. Venue owners in Newcastle's Midtown precinct between Steel and Union streets say the injection of almost $800,000 in state grants will help launch more vibrant events like the West Best Bloc Fest to boost the city's nightlife. The state will funnel around $770,000 into three inner city venue collectives, including Midtown - a group of around seven members; the East End group, and the villages of the Throsby basin, as well as the Shoaly Collective at Shoal Bay, to promote inter-venue cooperation. It represents the third round of the state government's Uptown grants program, and the first time that regional venues outside of Sydney have been beneficiaries. The Hunter's slice comes from a pie of some $5.5 million in state funding aimed at growing a 24-hour hospitality and entertainment economy. Midtown venue owners say they will use their allotment to bring in a local coordinator who can leverage opportunities for venues to cooperate on larger-scale events while remaining "authentic to Newcastle". "This night-time economy is going to boom from this little hit," Mad Poet owner Dylan Oakes said. As the landscape of the city's hospitality economy changes in the long shadow of lockout laws, COVID, a cost-of-living crisis and increases to supply costs, venue owners say coordinating with their neighbours has helped them navigate rolling headwinds. "The Midtown project is not to give us any more sugar rushes," Bernie's Bar venue manager Patrick Fisher said. "We have Saturday night for that. We're here to boost the long-term prospects of the precinct. "And by having a year-long coordinator, we think we will be really well placed to do that." Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp, who announced the grant winners on Friday afternoon, said the funding follows legislative changes to better mediate between venues looking to capitalise on a vibrant nighttime economy and residents living in those precincts. "In certain precincts where there are bars and restaurants and clubs, there will be music and clatter and noise. That is a good, vibrant 24-hour economy. That's what we want. But people need to know that precinct is where it's going to happen." "(Newcastle) is not a retirement village. It's the second biggest city in the state ... It's all part of a vibrant and active city, and people understand that. And if they don't know, they need to certainly do a bit of research before they move in." Grace Frey, a director of Bernie's Bar, said years of disruptions to the city's going-out economy had changed its make-up, but said the injection of state funding would help smaller, niche venues compete and meet patron needs. Nighttime Economy Minister John Graham said the funding would help collectives generate "self-sustaining" initiatives to boost local offerings and promote the visitor economy. Venue owners in Newcastle's Midtown precinct between Steel and Union streets say the injection of almost $800,000 in state grants will help launch more vibrant events like the West Best Bloc Fest to boost the city's nightlife. The state will funnel around $770,000 into three inner city venue collectives, including Midtown - a group of around seven members; the East End group, and the villages of the Throsby basin, as well as the Shoaly Collective at Shoal Bay, to promote inter-venue cooperation. It represents the third round of the state government's Uptown grants program, and the first time that regional venues outside of Sydney have been beneficiaries. The Hunter's slice comes from a pie of some $5.5 million in state funding aimed at growing a 24-hour hospitality and entertainment economy. Midtown venue owners say they will use their allotment to bring in a local coordinator who can leverage opportunities for venues to cooperate on larger-scale events while remaining "authentic to Newcastle". "This night-time economy is going to boom from this little hit," Mad Poet owner Dylan Oakes said. As the landscape of the city's hospitality economy changes in the long shadow of lockout laws, COVID, a cost-of-living crisis and increases to supply costs, venue owners say coordinating with their neighbours has helped them navigate rolling headwinds. "The Midtown project is not to give us any more sugar rushes," Bernie's Bar venue manager Patrick Fisher said. "We have Saturday night for that. We're here to boost the long-term prospects of the precinct. "And by having a year-long coordinator, we think we will be really well placed to do that." Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp, who announced the grant winners on Friday afternoon, said the funding follows legislative changes to better mediate between venues looking to capitalise on a vibrant nighttime economy and residents living in those precincts. "In certain precincts where there are bars and restaurants and clubs, there will be music and clatter and noise. That is a good, vibrant 24-hour economy. That's what we want. But people need to know that precinct is where it's going to happen." "(Newcastle) is not a retirement village. It's the second biggest city in the state ... It's all part of a vibrant and active city, and people understand that. And if they don't know, they need to certainly do a bit of research before they move in." Grace Frey, a director of Bernie's Bar, said years of disruptions to the city's going-out economy had changed its make-up, but said the injection of state funding would help smaller, niche venues compete and meet patron needs. Nighttime Economy Minister John Graham said the funding would help collectives generate "self-sustaining" initiatives to boost local offerings and promote the visitor economy. Venue owners in Newcastle's Midtown precinct between Steel and Union streets say the injection of almost $800,000 in state grants will help launch more vibrant events like the West Best Bloc Fest to boost the city's nightlife. The state will funnel around $770,000 into three inner city venue collectives, including Midtown - a group of around seven members; the East End group, and the villages of the Throsby basin, as well as the Shoaly Collective at Shoal Bay, to promote inter-venue cooperation. It represents the third round of the state government's Uptown grants program, and the first time that regional venues outside of Sydney have been beneficiaries. The Hunter's slice comes from a pie of some $5.5 million in state funding aimed at growing a 24-hour hospitality and entertainment economy. Midtown venue owners say they will use their allotment to bring in a local coordinator who can leverage opportunities for venues to cooperate on larger-scale events while remaining "authentic to Newcastle". "This night-time economy is going to boom from this little hit," Mad Poet owner Dylan Oakes said. As the landscape of the city's hospitality economy changes in the long shadow of lockout laws, COVID, a cost-of-living crisis and increases to supply costs, venue owners say coordinating with their neighbours has helped them navigate rolling headwinds. "The Midtown project is not to give us any more sugar rushes," Bernie's Bar venue manager Patrick Fisher said. "We have Saturday night for that. We're here to boost the long-term prospects of the precinct. "And by having a year-long coordinator, we think we will be really well placed to do that." Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp, who announced the grant winners on Friday afternoon, said the funding follows legislative changes to better mediate between venues looking to capitalise on a vibrant nighttime economy and residents living in those precincts. "In certain precincts where there are bars and restaurants and clubs, there will be music and clatter and noise. That is a good, vibrant 24-hour economy. That's what we want. But people need to know that precinct is where it's going to happen." "(Newcastle) is not a retirement village. It's the second biggest city in the state ... It's all part of a vibrant and active city, and people understand that. And if they don't know, they need to certainly do a bit of research before they move in." Grace Frey, a director of Bernie's Bar, said years of disruptions to the city's going-out economy had changed its make-up, but said the injection of state funding would help smaller, niche venues compete and meet patron needs. Nighttime Economy Minister John Graham said the funding would help collectives generate "self-sustaining" initiatives to boost local offerings and promote the visitor economy.
News.com.au
16 hours ago
- News.com.au
Heathrow unveils £49 bn expansion plan for third runway
London's Heathrow Airport on Friday unveiled a £49-billion ($65 billion) expansion plan, including the costs of building a long-awaited third runway, approved by the UK government after years of legal wrangling. The runway would cost £21 billion, with flights expected to take off within a decade, while the rest of the privately-funded investment will go toward expanding and modernising the airport. Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport by passenger numbers, said the expansion would provide at least 30 new daily routes, more domestic connections and improved flight times. The increased capacity would almost double the number of annual passengers from 84 million currently to up to 150 million passengers annually. "It has never been more important or urgent to expand Heathrow," said chief executive Thomas Woldbye. "We are effectively operating at capacity to the detriment of trade and connectivity," he added. Despite fierce opposition from environmentalists and local residents, the London mayor Sadiq Khan and some Labour MPs, the Labour government backed the new runway in January in a bid to boost UK economic growth. It would be a rare expansion in Europe, where countries are split between efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the needs of a strategic sector that has seen demand grow. Heathrow has submitted its proposal for the 3,500 metre runway to the UK government, which has also invited a rival proposal. - Green trade-offs - Heathrow's proposal includes £12 billion to fund a new terminal and £15 billion for modernisation. "A third runway and supporting infrastructure can be ready within a decade, and the full investment across all terminals would take place over the coming decades," Heathrow said in a statement. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is determined to deliver major infrastructure projects to revive the UK economy that has struggled to take off since the party came to power a year ago. The government is expected to also back expansion at Gatwick airport, south of the capital, in October -- having recently approved upgrades to London's Stansted, Luton and City airports. Britain's Supreme Court ruled at the end of 2020 that Heathrow could build the third runway, overturning a legal decision to block construction on environmental grounds. Local residents "will see their lives put on hold for a few more years while more money and time is wasted on a doomed scheme," said Douglas Parr, policy director for Greenpeace UK. He added the plans "export more tourism wealth out of the UK in the most polluting way possible." Arora Group, one of Heathrow's largest landowners, on Thursday said it will submit a rival bid to build a shorter third runway, promising lower costs and less disruption to local residents and the environment. "This is the ï¬�rst time the government has invited a competing proposal for Heathrow expansion," the UK-based property and hotel firm said in a statement. Airport-owner Heathrow's latest investment proposal comes in addition to plans to invest £10 billion over the next five years in upgrades to boost passenger numbers, which would be largely funded by higher charges on airlines.
