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Watch: 'Happily be known as Neve's mum'- Ardern's message to daughter

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 5 Apr 2023, 1:35pm

Watch: 'Happily be known as Neve's mum'- Ardern's message to daughter

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 5 Apr 2023, 1:35pm

Jacinda Ardern has sent a powerful message that people can be 鈥渁nxious, sensitive, kind and wear your heart on your sleeve鈥, while still also leading a country: 鈥淛ust like me.鈥

Ardern鈥檚 valedictory speech on Wednesday capped more than five years as Prime Minister of New Zealand, marked by a series of tragedies in the mosque attacks, Whakaari eruption, Covid-19 pandemic - and Ardern鈥檚 globally respected responses to them.

Fianc茅 Clarke Gayford and their young daughter Neve were front and centre in a packed public gallery full of family and friends and colleagues, including former prime ministers, iwi leaders, public health officials and members of the Islamic community.

In a speech full of laughter and tears, Ardern went through her achievements and reflected on where more work had to be done, particularly on child poverty and climate change calling for MPs to 鈥渢ake the politics out of it鈥, while acknowledging the 鈥渨eight鈥 of carrying a country on her shoulders at times.

聽鈥淚 still struggle to talk about March 15,鈥 she said referring to the terrorist attack that left 51 Muslim worshippers dead.

鈥榊ou can be that person, and be here鈥

She also shared a strong message to those thinking about entering politics but not thinking they are tough enough.

She revealed she was a 鈥渨orrier鈥, anxious and sensitive, a crier and a hugger, a mother. She even went to former colleague Trevor Mallard 鈥渇or advice on how to harden up鈥 - an anecdote that drew howls of laughter.

She revealed she was often so nervous before Question Time she couldn鈥檛 eat.

聽鈥淵ou can be that person, and be here,鈥 Ardern said.

She also shared a deeply personal experience of when she and Gayford were trying to conceive a child, just prior to becoming Labour leader in 2017.

鈥淚 had not long experienced a failed IVF round when I became leader of the Labour Party.

鈥淚 thought I had found myself on a path that meant I wouldn鈥檛 be a mother.

鈥淩ather than process that, I campaigned to become Prime Minister,鈥 she said to laughter.

鈥淎 rather good distraction as far as they go.鈥

In the gallery was a large contingent of her family, including her parents Ross and Laurell Ardern, her staff and colleagues along with former Prime Ministers Helen Clark and Geoffrey Palmer, and former director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.

Ardern started by recalling writing her maiden speech when she was 28. She looked back at her aspirations then and said she was proud she believed she had achieved those.

Deputy Prime Grant Robertson hugging former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after her valedictory speech. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Deputy Prime Grant Robertson hugging former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after her valedictory speech. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Ardern said she got used to having her Prime Ministership 鈥渄istilled down鈥 to a list of priorities including a domestic terrorist attack and a pandemic.

The former PM recalls her 2017 campaign as 鈥渇renetic鈥, remembering a situation during those weeks when she fell asleep on a plane and woke up to ask if she was 鈥渟till the leader of the Labour Party?鈥

Take politics out of climate change - Ardern

Ardern spoke of her passion for action on climate change, which she once called this generation鈥檚 鈥渘uclear-free moment鈥, and about working to get cross-party support to get the Zero Carbon Act across the line.

鈥淲hen I came here 15 years ago we spoke about climate change as if it was a hypothetical. But in the intervening years, we have seen first-hand the reality of our changing environment.

鈥淣ow I know there is politics in almost everything, but we also know when and how to remove it. When crisis has landed in front of us, I have seen the best of this place. Climate change is a crisis. The one thing I ask of this house is; please, take the politics out of climate change.鈥

Ardern said she has 鈥渆njoyed immensely鈥 working with the Green Party, in particular co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson.

She spoke of work to honour the Treaty of Waitangi, including 鈥渃rossing the bridge more often鈥 and setting up Te Arawhiti, the Ministry of M膩ori Crown Relations, headed by Kelvin Davis, along with the M膩ori Health Authority, teaching New Zealand history in schools and instigating Matariki - the first indigenous public holiday.

鈥淭he path we travel as a nation won鈥檛 be linear and it won鈥檛 always be easy,鈥 Ardern said, adding that she was happy she 鈥渢ook on the hilly bits鈥 during her time as PM.

Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Mark Mitchell

She spoke about addressing child poverty, having set for the first time targets to reduce it.

鈥淚n 2017 when we formed Government almost one in five children were in poverty. As I leave, there are fewer than 77,000 children living in poverty,鈥 Ardern said. 鈥淏ut now, we just need to keep going.鈥

鈥淚鈥檓 not here to say now that everything is perfect, it is not,鈥 Ardern continued.

鈥淧olitics has always been about progress. Sometimes you can measure it, and sometimes you can鈥檛.

鈥淭here are very few things I have sought to do in politics that have an end point... politics have never been a tick list for me.鈥

Heavy few chapters

Ardern has described the years she presided over NZ鈥檚 history as a 鈥渉eavy few chapters鈥.

She opined that most of her achievements would not feature 鈥渉eavily鈥 in history books, excepting the Covid-19 pandemic and tragedies.

Ardern said there were still people that would ring her as PM that would reduce her to a 鈥渃old sweat鈥.

鈥淚 remember all too vividly a visit to Auckland University when Minister Hipkins got a dreaded health call - the outbreak of Delta. I rang [partner] Clarke and said, 鈥榗ode red鈥.鈥

She recalled a conversation with Chief Science Advisor Dame Juliet Gerrard who said they might have a vaccine in five years 鈥渋f we鈥檙e lucky鈥.

鈥淲e had something better on our side [than luck]. We had science,鈥 Ardern said, speaking of how quickly the vaccine was developed.

Of her response to Covid-19, she acknowledged 鈥渨e didn鈥檛 get everything right鈥, but urged the public to remember 鈥渨hat it was all for鈥.

鈥淵ou saved people鈥檚 lives,鈥 she said.

鈥淲as it hard, absolutely, but we鈥檒l never know who you kept on this earth to know how truly worth it it was.鈥

She said she relied on the team around her and thanked them.

The former PM said the country lost a 鈥渟ense of security鈥 for robust discussion during the pandemic.

鈥淚 could physically see how entrenched [false information on Covid-19] was for people.鈥

Ardern spoke of her experience confronting anti-vax protesters, saying she once tried to correct a protester who was talking to her about conspiracy theories. But she realised she could not get through to her.

鈥淚 was idealistic enough to think I could make a difference.

鈥淚 could not single-handedly pull someone out of a rabbit hole. But perhaps collectively we all have a role to play in stopping people falling in in the first place.鈥

March 15

Ardern said she still struggles to talk about March 15.

鈥淥n the way down [to Christchurch] I saw the front page of the paper. I saw a member of the Muslim community covered in blood.鈥

She recalled speaking to that person only hours later.

鈥淎s he stood to speak, I did not know what to expect, but what came next was one of the most profound memories I have of that period.

鈥淗e thanked us. Here was someone who had been through the most horrific experience I could imagine, and he thanked New Zealand and expressed gratitude for his home. "

The NZ Muslim community has 鈥渉umbled me beyond words,鈥 Ardern said.

She said there was more work to do to combat extremism.

鈥淏ut the most significant task for all of us as a nation is to live up to the expectations that those who experienced it have of us. To deserve their thanks.鈥

Ardern said of Parliament all she did she 鈥渄id not do it alone鈥.

She thanked her Diplomatic Protection Service staff and drivers - telling a story of how a motion sickness kit had been fitted to her cars when transporting her family.

Deputy Prime Grant Robertson hugging former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after her valedictory speech. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Deputy Prime Grant Robertson hugging former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after her valedictory speech. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Ardern said her press secretaries must have had the worst job considering she so disliked being in the media. 鈥淢y dad stopped watching the news for five years.鈥

Her mother had a different approach, during Covid sending her Ardern her own personal thought for the day.

They mostly uplifting except one, 鈥渨hich I thought was a bit grandiose, even for a dedicated mother鈥.

鈥淚t read 鈥榬emember, even Jesus had people who didn鈥檛 like him鈥.鈥

Of her daughter Neve, Ardern said: 鈥淕osh, I love how independent you are already.鈥

鈥淚t means you won鈥檛 grow up being known as the ex-Prime Minister鈥檚 daughter. Instead, I鈥檒l be known as Neve鈥檚 mum,鈥 Ardern said to her daughter.

She thanked Gayford for 鈥渒eeping my cup full鈥 .

鈥淵ou are fiercely loyal and always had my back, but you are also a fighter. You believe in three things fiercely, social justice, protecting our oceans, and that a good tea should have decent brew time.

鈥淭hanks for keeping my cup full, and for personally enduring so much rubbish. You鈥檙e a keeper.鈥

The former PM paid special mention to Finance Minister Grant Robertson.

鈥淚t鈥檚 fair to say I took the title of Deputy Prime Minister very literally,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 did not take on [any challenges] alone. I took them on with Grant.鈥

Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Ardern made mention of Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, and recalled conversations they had over the years. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all in good hands,鈥 she said.

Ardern spoke of the challenges of having a career like hers while also wanting to have a family.

鈥淲hen I was 37 years old I was told there were a range of factors that meant I hadn鈥檛 been able to get pregnant, and stress was probably one of them.

鈥淲e decided to use the help of science, but as so many couples experience, that wasn鈥檛 straight forward.

鈥淚 had not long experienced a failed IVF round when I became leader of the Labour Party. I thought I had found myself on a path that meant I wouldn鈥檛 be a mother.

鈥淩ather than process that, I campaigned to become Prime Minister. A rather good distraction as far as they go.鈥

She said it was then a 鈥渟urprise鈥 a few months later when she was pregnant, and acknowledged the 鈥渋ncredible support鈥 to be a mother in office.

鈥淏ut I leave knowing I was the best mother I could be.

鈥淵ou can be that person, and be here.鈥

Ardern said she faced flak for her hugs, but didn鈥檛 listen.

鈥淚 would rather be criticised for being a hugger than being heartless, and so hug I did. A lot.

鈥淚 leave this place as sensitive as I ever was. I鈥檓 a crier and a hugger - it鈥檚 instinctive to me.鈥

Ardern said she hoped to have demonstrated people in office can be: 鈥渁nxious, sensitive, kind and wear your heart on your sleeve.

鈥淵ou can be a mother, or not, an ex-Mormon, or not, a nerd, a crier, a hugger 鈥 you can be all of these things, and not only can you be here .

鈥淵ou can lead, just like me,鈥 Ardern concluded.

Parliament, including a packed public gallery, burst into song, singing Tutira Mai Ng膩 Iwi at the end of a raucous applause.

Parliament, including a packed public gallery, burst into song, singing Tutira Mai Ng膩 Iwi at the end of a raucous applause.

Parliament, including a packed public gallery, burst into song, singing Tutira Mai Ng膩 Iwi at the end of a raucous applause.

Ardern then greeted individual members, embracing her colleagues as members of the Green Party and Te P膩ti M膩ori sang another waiata.

As the personal greetings continued, parliament continued with a third and fourth song to farewell Ardern.

PM not ruling out giving Ardern a damehood

Prime Minister聽聽is not ruling out giving his predecessor,聽聽a damehood.

Walking into Question Time on Wednesday, Hipkins said he did not discuss honours appointments ahead of them being made.

Former Prime Minister John Key was made a knight at the Queen鈥檚 Birthday honours in 2017, months after he left the role.

聽鈥淲e don鈥檛 talk about those things before decisions are made on them,鈥 Hipkins said - 鈥渦ltimately, it鈥檚 a royal prerogative.鈥

Tributes from friends and former adversaries are flowing in as Ardern prepares to bow out of Parliament.

Ardern posted to her Instagram saying it was a big day and she was feeling emotional.

鈥淏ig day today. Spending a few hours packing and sorting papers for the archives, and then this afternoon I give my last speech to Parliament,鈥 she said.

鈥淟ots of mixed emotions 鈥 and a very long list of things to do!鈥.

Ardern has kept out of the limelight since announcing her resignation in January. She has agreed to only two formal interviews since leaving office, both of which aired on Tuesday night.

The interviews displayed the emotion that is likely to be on show this evening, with Ardern at times holding back tears.

In interviews with聽1九一星空无限, she said that, while she did not quit because of the anger directed against her, she felt that, if her resignation led to the temperature of politics reducing, then 鈥渢hat would be good for New Zealand鈥.

However, she said that, for the most part, her time at the top 鈥渉as been amazing鈥.

She was proud of the progress Labour had made in 鈥減ushing against things that were difficult鈥.

鈥淲e had some hard debates but part of me did think, if I did go, maybe we can just take a breath because I knew I was a flashpoint for some people.鈥

The Islamic Women鈥檚 Council of New Zealand released a joint statement paying tribute to Ardern

鈥淔our years ago, after the horrific terrorist acts blew New Zealand and our Muslim community onto the global stage, Ms Ardern clearly identified with Muslim women by donning the hijab in solidarity with us as we mourned. This was a powerful act and statement, done at the time when other countries where banning Muslim women from wearing the headscarf in public.

鈥淎lthough Muslim women represent only about half of one per cent of the population, as Prime Minister, Ms Ardern was accessible to the Islamic Women鈥檚 Council and she instructed her ministers and the relevant public servants to meet with us and listen to the challenges facing our community, thereby ensuring Muslimah needs were thoroughly and appropriately considered,鈥 the council said.

Former Labour leader Andrew Little told 九一星空无限talk ZB that Ardern would go down as 鈥渙ne of the greats鈥.

鈥淎s a prime minister over five years, the number of kind of extraordinary challenges she鈥檚 had to deal with 鈥 the natural disasters, the pandemic and what have you 鈥 it would be testing for anybody,鈥 he said.

鈥淎bsolutely every issue that comes across the table, she engages with the relevant minister in some considerable depth. She鈥檚 just been an extraordinary talent.鈥

Political reaction to her legacy

National leader Christopher Luxon also paid tribute to Ardern.

鈥淪he showed exemplary leadership through the Christchurch massacre and she made all New Zealanders proud,鈥 Luxon said.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a very, very tough job being Prime Minister, she did it to the very best of her ability.

鈥淪he obviously kept our profile internationally in a good place, which is important, and I wish her nothing but success and wish her and her family the best for the future.鈥

Luxon said like other former prime ministers he thought she could continue to play a 鈥渦seful role鈥 for New Zealand on the international stage.

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said she would remember Ardern for her 鈥渟trength in the face of some deep, dark harrowing moments鈥.

鈥淎nd for her sacrifice, because I鈥檓 a mum too, for her sacrifice as a mum and the heaviness that only a few people really understand that it takes to lead a political party, less lead as a prime minister.鈥

Te P膩ti M膩ori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said Ardern had led the country through 鈥渦nprecedented challenges鈥 while also as a young woman experiencing 鈥渟ome of the worst misogyny we鈥檝e ever had鈥.

鈥淏ut as a testament to her strength and her mana she showed you can sock it to the mysoginists, and other wahine are hopefully going inspired, be more motivated to step up to those spaces.鈥

Ngarewa-Packer said Ardern had been a great advocate and brave in pushing kaupapa for M膩ori that others 鈥渟hy away from鈥, but she could have gone further.

鈥淚 think she had an opportunity to be a great leader for M膩ori ... but when she got to trying to be really transformative that鈥檚 when we saw the misogyny rise.

鈥淚t became more about her than the politics she was trying to enforce.

鈥淪he had an absolute mandate. She had the strongest M膩ori caucus we鈥檝e ever seen.

鈥淪he had the support at multiple kaupapa, R膩tana, Waitangi, she could have really shaken it up.

鈥淏ut the reality is, is that you know, as we saw the kickback from the extreme right, and we saw the kickback because Aotearoa is not really ready, and it was too much for one P膩keh膩 wahine to carry.鈥

Ardern will formally cease to be an MP on April 15.

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