Jacinda Ardern to step down as New Zealand prime minister

good riddance

good that she is stepping down. How long people will digest propaganda?

Good riddance indeed, but she's done a lot of damage with her far-left policies in the process behind a mask of faux kindness. Now she can shuffle off to some overpaid gig with the UN or WEF to escape accountability.

Ardern lead with sincere principled integrity, honestly as politicians come and go.

With the benefit of hindsight, Ardern flawed covid whack a mole policy sowed the seeds of Adrens fall from grace in the polls.

The Labour have ruined New Zealand, Jacinda should take responsibility for that.

Good riddance. Another WEF puppet falls. There's a reckoning coming.

Edit: The Labour Party, whoops

She was lauded globally for her country's initial handling of the coronavirus pandemic after New Zealand managed for months to stop the virus at its borders.

Yet other nations did not copy this approach which benefited the majority of NZ'ers.

Weekly subsidies covering a majority of lost wages to the workforce rolling out before the implementation of lockdowns.

Unlike Japan and the US where massive wealth transfers to businesses occurred months before one or a few stimulus payments were doled out to the populace. And payroll protections and guarantees that were almost non-existent with benefits accruing to business owners through consistent, continuous subsidies.

Ardern's COVID response stand out as one of the most socially responsible amongst nations.

Salute for her maverick consideration for all her citizens.

No surprise at all, Ardern has been incredibly unpopular for a long time. Id imagine her party has tapped her on the shoulder and told her that her time is up, or else she'd be ousted.

Inflation now at a disastrous 7% in NZ, with some of the highest real estate and rental prices in the world probably explains her unpopularity. NZ need to lower taxes and get inflation under control.

She was a great PM, did very well for her country, and guided it through Covid well.

Now the conservative, square-minded losers celebrate..

@nondualism

In what way? You think there is a better leader in NZ right now?

Yes, Luxon.

Planned and timed well, nothing left to chance, the UN gravy train beckons and suits Ardern somewhat progressive style of politics.

It's easy for keyboard warriors to throw around claims of 'far-right' policies, propaganda', 'faux kindness' yet it seems very hard for anyone to provide any evidence for such wild claims aye. ;)

Of course it's easy. She's done the work for us. NZ's economy is stuffed, housing is unaffordable, high inflation, she's trying to tax farmers into oblivion.

Has there been a better world-leader for their people in the last 50 years world-wide than Ardern? I think not. Clearly amazing, and she'll go down in history as being a model for how all world leaders should treat their people. A true saint.

Algernon LaCroix

Good riddance indeed, but she's done a lot of damage with her far-left policies in the process behind a mask of faux kindness.

For example?

Nice woman, but I constantly tut-tutted her Covid policy. Being overly cautious, and then draconian. At the end of the day, this liberal wave of politicians that she was one of overly focused on equality and Me too and BLM, as well as poleaxing Trump and his ilk, at the huge risk of not seeing what was happening in China, Russia, Iran, etc. They were slow to act. This emboldened monsters like Putin, and now Jacinda doesn’t have the fight in her to deal with it. What the west needs now are harder, tougher, dare I say it nastier politicians to clean up the trash

Bye.

dagon

Yet other nations did not copy this approach which benefited the majority of NZ'ers.

Weekly subsidies covering a majority of lost wages to the workforce rolling out before the implementation of lockdowns.

Unlike Japan and the US where massive wealth transfers to businesses occurred months before one or a few stimulus payments were doled out to the populace. And payroll protections and guarantees that were almost non-existent with benefits accruing to business owners through consistent, continuous subsidies.

Ardern's COVID response stand out as one of the most socially responsible amongst nations.

Salute for her maverick consideration for all her citizens.

Here, here.

Any country in the world would do good to hire her as permanent leader for their country, knowing it will be run better than any right-wing country on the planet forever. The lady is near god-status at how amazing she was as a leftist prime minister, upholding righteous leftist ideals.

cenobite

Nice woman, but I constantly tut-tutted her Covid policy. Being overly cautious, and then draconian.

Actually, after the initial lockdown, it was probably the least draconian handling of covid in the world.

That all you got? 

I agree with her self assessment that she is not the right person.

the responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead, and also, when you are not.

she is not and has never been. thus, “bye” is really all that’s necessary.

and CNN says because she has the lowest popularity since 2017. There you go. Use that.

Ardern won praise on the international political stage for her fresh and empathetic approach to the role, but her popularity has waned in New Zealand in recent years.

Several polls in late 2022 showed falling support for Ardern and her Labour Party, with some at the lowest level since she took office in 2017, according to CNN affiliate Radio New Zealand.

Ardern legacy is an economically dependency on China, NZ largest trading partner, a 30 billion total trade relationship a huge number and comes with political strings attached.

This trading relationship has sustained NZ through the covid crisis and lockdowns.

Never something for nothing.

An island nation with a population under 5 million people, and the PM was at a loss as to handling the Covid crisis. High infection rates and a recession ridden economy are what her efforts resulted in.

Now she will have more free time to hang out in Finland.

An island nation with a population under 5 million people, and the PM was at a loss as to handling the Covid crisis.

Other than handling it better than any other nation on the planet. She kept deaths low, opened at the right time, and kept the economy at a reasonable level.

I’m impressed that she managed to come to the conclusion herself that she didn’t have what was necessary to run the country. Nothing left ‘in the tank’, her own words. All of those lovely emotions and feel good intentions certainly appealed to a certain section of the population and inspired them too. That’s a positive.

Fortunately for New Zealand a new pragmatic, ‘feet on the ground’ and capable leader will step into the position. That ‘style’ of feel good leadership ain’t gunna cut it in the turbulent waters ahead. Let’s see what happens in the upcoming elections, at this juncture she has served to strengthen and solidify the conservatives.

The pendulum has swung, she has played her role beautifully.

Adhern lost the support of working New Zealanders.

A maori uber driver recently commented on her to me, “She’s fake!”

RKL

An island nation with a population under 5 million people, and the PM was at a loss as to handling the Covid crisis. High infection rates and a recession ridden economy are what her efforts resulted in.

And yet some of the lowest hospitalisation and death rates in the world.

It’s interesting how her lot are called “liberal”, but were criticized for being “too strict”.

So the non-liberal parties would be looser than the liberal one?

Funny how words get hijacked by political interests.

Unlike Japan and the US where massive wealth transfers to businesses occurred months before one or a few stimulus payments were doled out to the populace.

Errr wait, didn’t the New Zealanders print a ton of money like other countries, and don’t they now have high inflation too?

Do you think the low income people enjoy the inflation that those actions caused?

Is there some kind of rightist hymn sheet? You'd think she was the devil incarnate mounting a campaign from the back end of the world to implement global communism. So much vitriol for such an innocuous leader in a rather small and uninfluential country. I just don't get it.

Who in the NZ Labour party will want to stepup as the new leader? Adhern has wrecked Labour. They’ll be soundly defeated in the next election.

Its telling that Ardern is bailing before the election. If she had integrity she would fight the election, lose, then resign.

Instead she forces another Labour MP to pick up the poisoned chalice.

2020hindsightsToday  11:08 am JST

Race baiting, with her uncritical support of the BLM movement to the exclusion of other ethnic groups

The so-called "fart tax" on GHG emission from farm animals to penalise the country's farmers for their miniscule contribution to the tiny country's microscopic contribution to climate change. Then failing to rein in her far-left party members for playing the race card when the mainly middle-aged white farmers took umbrage to this ridiculous impost.

Shepherding in what amounts to a one-country, two-systems form of race-based government.

Constant lies about the safety and efficacy of the covid vaccines, lockdowns and masking, and attempts to smear people with genuine questions and grievances as "far-right" and "conspiracy theorists"

Cosying up to the CCP

The free first-year tertiary education mess as a vote bribe. Just attracted young people who would've been better putting the efforts toward other endeavours like learning a useful trade instead of a useless arts degree.

Rising rents and poor affordability for first home buyers when she was trying to do the opposite through the poorly considered KiwiBuild farce.

Rising living costs and falling confidence in future prospects

Failed light-rail system for Auckland.

So there's a few.

Has there been a better world-leader for their people in the last 50 years world-wide than Ardern? I think not.

Whoah :)

Clinton. Obama. Reagan. Thatcher.

What will Ardern leave behind as her legacy? Will people read more about Ardern than they do about these others?

I am sure there must be many others too, but the four above just popped into my head as being obvious examples, although no doubt some would disagree that Obama is above Ardern.

Interesting to see many here who would struggle to locate NZ on a map suddenly being experts on NZ policy and politics, calling Ardern a witch, a Communist and so on.

I agree with Strangerland - she will be remembered as an exceptional leader who kept her nation pumping, the rugby stadiums full and pubs and restaurants packed, while the rest of us were under some type of restrictions.

A definite contender for UN Secretary General if she plays her cards right and those cards fall her way. Bravo, Ms Ardern.

Algernon LaCroix

Race baiting, with her uncritical support of the BLM movement to the exclusion of other ethnic groups

The support was a good thing. Unless you like racist cops.

The so-called "fart tax" on GHG emission from farm animals to penalise the country's farmers for their miniscule contribution to the tiny country's microscopic contribution to climate change.

Dealing with climate change is hardly 'hard left'.

Shepherding in what amounts to a one-country, two-systems form of race-based government.

What are you talking about?

Constant lies about the safety and efficacy of the covid vaccines, lockdowns and masking,

The vaccines were safe and effective, which is borne out by the low hospitalisation and death rates.

and attempts to smear people with genuine questions and grievances as "far-right" and "conspiracy theorists"

Speaking the truth isn't smearing.

Cosying up to the CCP

Makes economic sense for NZ, and hence good foreign policy.

The free first-year tertiary education mess as a vote bribe. Just attracted young people who would've been better putting the efforts toward other endeavours like learning a useful trade instead of a useless arts degree.

Absolutely wrong, because the money can be used to learn a trade.

I have no problem with my taxes being used to make it easier for young people to get a tertiary education.

Rising rents and poor affordability for first home buyers

A global problem with the housing market. Actually, house prices are now coming down.

Rising living costs and falling confidence in future prospects

Inflation is a global problem from Covid and Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Failed light-rail system for Auckland.

Derailed by Covid.

Bye Felicia. Time for a person of color to take office - long past time. Enough of the colonizers.

fxgai

Has there been a better world-leader for their people in the last 50 years world-wide than Ardern? I think not.

Whoah :)

Clinton. Obama. Reagan. Thatcher.

What will Ardern leave behind as her legacy? Will people read more about Ardern than they do about these others?

Stellar Covid response.

2020hindsightsToday  11:34 am JST

RKL

And yet some of the lowest hospitalisation and death rates in the world.

Except when it had some of the highest hospitalization death rates in the world, such as during July 2022.

Even higher than Japan, which has a much higher population density.

Miserable failure by a woke New Zealand government.

2020, your view is clouded by your far-left standpoint, so you just make excuses for her poor performance by blaming outside forces instead of examining her inability to deal with them, and playing the race card when you can't get around her hypocrisy.

Decent leader overall. When you look at some of the nonsense we’ve had in charge around the world during her tenure, she’s done pretty well.

She endlessly triggered the right. That was quite entertaining and is often a sign of doing something right.

Stellar Covid response.

I can accept that to the extent the initial response that went well. But one good move doesn’t make a great leader.

I recall, circa August - September 2021, I think, that there was great debate here at JT about the sense of remaining as a hermit country at that point in time. The writing was on the wall then, but they clung to their “liberal” restrictions until utterly embarrassed by the new variants last year, was it.

Her failure to adjust course in a timely manner disqualifies her to be ranked above the likes of Clinton, Obama, Reagan and Thatcher, who all produced far greater achievements.

The suggestion that she was the best in 50 years was, I suspect, sarcasm to rile up those of us who would oppose.

But people are free to debate her merits versus Obama’s!

Another lady doing a below average job.

Just like Angela Merkel in power for 2 decades, nothing but mistakes and weakness towards Russia, dependent on Russia for resources and energy. Closing down all Nuclear power plants which now they regret and are going back on that decision.

Not far behind is Aung San Suu Kyi, again in power for decades, yet never prepared for the worse possible event, arrested, in jail.

Park in South Korea, first woman, nothing but mistakes left and right. Eventually ended up arrested, in jail.

Women in power is a good idea on paper for a woke audience, in practice it's a 70% chance of failure.

I don’t think of her as highly as some do, she’s had some success and some failure, but when this list is waiting in the wings…

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/131015640/jacinda-ardern-resigns-who-are-the-contenders-to-be-new-zealands-next-prime-minister

I can’t honestly say I’m glad she’s leaving.

I already did. And I didn't even have to read CNN. It's called thinking for yourself. Try it.

Things people say when they disagree with their favorite news organization once in a blue moon.

Another lady doing a below average job.

Just like Angela Merkel in power for 2 decades

Merkel - maybe the best female leader in human history.

Finally

Any country in the world would do good to hire her as permanent leader for their country

Who throws in the towel when facing adversity/criticism. I am sure countries would be lining for that.

Another lady doing a below average job.

Just like Angela Merkel in power for 2 decades

Stated in power for 2 decades while doing a below average job?

Interesting. You’d have thought someone that incompetent wouldn’t have lasted that long. The walls would have closed in pretty early.

Maybe our resident conspiracy theorists shed any light on this strange phenomenon?

Who throws in the towel when facing adversity/criticism. I am sure countries would be lining for that.

The most intelligent leaders know when they've done their jobs, and step aside for others. It doesn't mean they aren't the best person for the job in other places.

Ardern is clearly a much better leader than Trump, Xi, Putin, Erdogan and all the other loser right-wing leaders in the world. Even the right-wingers know that, it's why her name enrages them when they see it.

If only other world leaders had the mental agility to realise their best days are long behind them. But they continue to rule making decisions that impact the populations under their control. She has been honest and has bailed out 10 points for her.

I may disagree with her choices, but I believe she wast trying to do the best for NZ.

I wouldn't want her job.

Is there some kind of rightist hymn sheet

Oh, yes. With all due respect to New Zealand, a beautiful country with fine people, it’s not a major player on the world stage. Despite this, Ardern’s presence triggered a lot of the media around the world certain elements of the right consume and mindlessly parrot. The people who play on these very easily influenced people probably couldn’t name one other New Zealand leader in history.

There is of course intelligent criticism of Ardern from more thoughtful, rational and less easily led people. The hymn sheet crowd just bleat.

You do have to say Ardern has a huge presence around the world. I’m sure she won’t be short of opportunities in the future.

Very impressive indeed.

Ardern is clearly a much better leader than Trump, Xi, Putin, Erdogan and all the other loser 

Ok, so I read this as an admission that you were way off target to suggest she was the best in the last 50 years.

That’s right, that’s one way to say mea culpa.

Being better than Xi and Putin though, yeah that’s a great complement for her and she would be proud you have her that!

Trump was a clown who did sign on some good things that came out of his administration and not so good things. But a one term President who wouldn’t admit defeat, well yeah, hard not to beat.

Erdogan, another power grabber, who thinks that high interest rates cause inflation.

Yep, she is better I guess.

Above Nicky Maduro too?

Merkel - maybe the best female leader in human history.

mmm, not sure what she did but she kind of put Germany over Lutin’s barrel, didn’t she? Does she have an economic model called Merkelism or something that I ought know about?

A maori uber driver recently commented on her to me, “She’s fake!”

Sort of like Canada, a whole lot of talking about diversity but never any non-white PMs.

Clearly amazing, and she'll go down in history as being a model for how all world leaders should treat their people. A true saint.

Religeous fervour. Interesting.

Thatcher

There’s one - Thatcherism”. That created record unemployment and saw the government have to pay out more and more billions in benefits to stop them from starving. Not great.

I don’t regard myself as a misogynist for posting this.

Thatcher - not good. Ardern - decent. Merkel - canny and competent. Truss - WTF.

RKL

And yet some of the lowest hospitalisation and death rates in the world.

Except when it had some of the highest hospitalization death rates in the world, such as during July 2022.

Which is completely irrelevant. NZ was in winter in July, Japan was mid summer. Point in time stats are meaningless, summaries tell the story.

Algernon LaCroix

2020, your view is clouded by your far-left standpoint,

I am far from far-left. I believe in a free market.

so you just make excuses for her poor performance by blaming outside forces instead of examining her inability to deal with them,

Outside forces are to blame. Inflation is global. NZ has dealt with it about as good as other nations around the world.

and playing the race card when you can't get around her hypocrisy.

Nobody is playing the race card.

Strangerland

Any country in the world would do good to hire her as permanent leader for their country, knowing it will be run better than any right-wing country on the planet forever. The lady is near god-status at how amazing she was as a leftist prime minister, upholding righteous leftist ideals.

“Permanent leader”? Well, thats healthily democratic, I must say. NZers obviously are not to keen on that idea, they can’t wait to see the back of her. Still, lets see if the offers come flooding in from other

The lady is near god-status. Theres that disturbing religeous fervour again. One has to wonder…

Ardern lasted longer than the last four British prime ministers and was PM under two monarchs, and had a baby in office.

For Jacinda Ardern as Prime Minister of New Zealand is a mere stepping stone, a few rungs up the ladder.

Ardern has ambition oozing out of every orifice, seen it done it move on up.

I suggest Ardern has a position on UN Senior Management Group or even the next UN Secretary-General.

Ardern has in many respect play links with the Government of China to her advantage.

“I’m leaving, because with such a privileged role comes responsibility. The responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead and also when you are not. I know what this job takes. And I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice. It’s that simple,”  

Said with a straight face and a tear in the eye.

Good luck with that,

More non-New Zealanders commenting on this post.

Both Margret Thatcher, and Angela Merkel though poles apart politically suffered from sticky seat syndrome.

They both failed to know when to quit.

In Merkel case single handedly created policies that left Germany energy security at the mercy of Vladimir Putin President of Russia.

Jacinda Ardern is the polar opposite, politically streets ahead, shrewd, cunning opportunist.

Frankly Jacinda Ardern hasn't put a foot wrong. Kill them with kindness.

Jacinda Ardern is the polar opposite, politically streets ahead, shrewd, cunning opportunist. 

Frankly Jacinda Ardern hasn't put a foot wrong. Kill them with kindness.

Its clear you don’t live in New Zealand.

Ardern legacy is an economically dependency on China, NZ largest trading partner, a 30 billion total trade relationship a huge number and comes with political strings attached. 

This trading relationship has sustained NZ through the covid crisis and lockdowns.

Never something for nothing.

You are correct here.

Toblerone

Spot on, I have never even had the pleasure of a visit either.

I can scent the whiff of unbridled ambition, and the ability to harness such with patience to present an believable ethical Intelligence to hone that desire for success, achievement, power.