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Watch: 'I could have kept going' - Ardern reflects on resignation in new interview

Author
Jaime Lyth, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Fri, 22 Sep 2023, 2:33pm

Watch: 'I could have kept going' - Ardern reflects on resignation in new interview

Author
Jaime Lyth, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Fri, 22 Sep 2023, 2:33pm

Dame Jacinda Ardern has revealed she didn鈥檛 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鈥檚 environmental charity.

Ardern described her life as 鈥渧ery different鈥 almost nine months after her resignation, following 15 years of working in Parliament.

鈥淚 was overwhelmed that beyond New Zealand shores it triggered a discussion about how we make these decisions, and I鈥檝e had particularly a few women say to me thank you for showing me that鈥檚 it鈥檚 okay to say, I鈥檓 tired or I don鈥檛 have enough in the tank anymore to do a job well.鈥

GMA host Robin Roberts asked Ardern if she characterised her own resignation as a result of burnout, which she denied.

鈥淚 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.

鈥淭he answer for me personally was no, it was time for someone else. So a bit different than burnout,鈥 Ardern said.

She hoped her run as prime minister would inspire other future 鈥渞eluctant leaders鈥 and those 鈥渨ho may think they might not have the right character traits, or they see themselves as too sensitive or not tough enough鈥.

Ardern said they are necessary traits for leaders.

鈥淲e need more empathy in leadership we need more kindness in leadership.鈥

Former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern reveals what she misses most about politics. Photo / Good Morning America

Former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern reveals what she misses most about politics. Photo / Good Morning America

On what life is like after politics, she described it as 鈥渧ery different鈥 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.

Jacinda Ardern, her partner Clarke Gayford, and their child Neve. Photo / Getty Images

Jacinda Ardern, her partner Clarke Gayford, and their child Neve. Photo / Getty Images

鈥淏ut I also still want to be useful and so, at the moment, I鈥檓 very lucky to be in Boston, I鈥檓 at Harvard.鈥

In April, Ardern revealed her new Harvard University post specialising in technology governance, alongside her previously announced jobs working as a special envoy聽to the Christchurch Call and joining the Earthshot board.

鈥淚鈥檝e 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.鈥

Ardern said the March 15 mosque attack being live-streamed 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.

Roberts told Ardern she had heard she was planning on writing a book, despite having previously signalled that she didn鈥檛 want to.

Ardern said she didn鈥檛 want to necessarily write about her political experiences and she didn鈥檛 want to betray the confidence of her friends, so instead she鈥檚 writing a few stories about her current adventures.

On what she misses the most about New Zealand and politics, she said 鈥渢he people, the people are amazing鈥.

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