On Monday, New Zealand celebrated former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, awarding her the title of “dame” in recognition of her leadership during the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting and the Covid-19 pandemic.
At 42, Ardern surprised the nation in January by resigning as Prime Minister and stepping away from politics, citing depleted energy and motivation. Her successor, current Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, announced that Ardern had been bestowed the damehood as part of the King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours List.
New Zealand’s head of state, King Charles III, formally crowned on May 6, also endorsed this recognition. “Dame Jacinda Ardern, who served as Prime Minister from 2017 to 2023, is being honored for her service to New Zealand during some of the most challenging times we’ve faced in recent history,” Hipkins acknowledged.
He added, “She steered the nation during the 2019 terrorist attacks and the Covid-19 pandemic, both times of intense struggle for our 40th Prime Minister. I’ve personally witnessed her unwavering commitment to our country.”
Ardern, on receiving the honor, shared her conflicted feelings, crediting much of her work as a collective effort of all New Zealanders.
Ardern’s political career, beginning with her election as Prime Minister in 2017, has been marked by international praise, particularly for her compassionate response to the Christchurch mosque attack in 2019, where 51 Muslim worshippers lost their lives, and 40 were injured. Despite successfully securing a second term in 2020 amid “Jacindamania,” her center-left government grappled with challenges, including skyrocketing inflation and a housing affordability crisis towards the end of her tenure.
