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AAP
AAP
Politics
Ben McKay

Ardern takes conservation, extremism post-PM gigs

Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern will end her domestic political career next week. (Ben McKay/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Jacinda Ardern has taken two jobs to start her post-politics career, including a board seat on Prince William's pet conservation project.

The former New Zealand prime minister has been appointed by Prince William as a trustee of the Earthshot Prize, which aims to find solutions to the world's biggest environmental challenges.

She will also continue her own work on her flagship foreign policy, accepting an appointment as special envoy for the Christchurch Call.

Ms Ardern said she felt "very lucky" to work with William, a personal friend, to whom she spoke about Earthshot before it was named.

"I think we can demonstrate to the next generation that there is cause to feel hopeful for our future if we accelerate and support those innovators. That's what Earthshot does. So I'm really proud to be a part of the board," she told Newshub.

The Christchurch Call is an international organisation which brings together countries and tech companies to eliminate online extremism.

It was founded by New Zealand and France, with Ms Ardern working with French President Emmanuel Macron, after the 2019 Christchurch Mosques massacre.

Announcing her appointment on Tuesday, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said, "We owe it to those who lost their lives on 15 March 2019 to continue our work to ensure there is no place for terrorist and violent extremist content online".

"Jacinda Ardern's leadership on the Christchurch Call has already made New Zealand, and the world, a safer place," he said.

"The Christchurch Call is a foreign policy priority for the government and Jacinda Ardern is uniquely placed to keep pushing forward with the goal of eliminating violent extremist content online."

The Call's focus comes as the Christchurch Mosques terrorist - Australian man Brenton Tarrant - was radicalised online and live-streamed his murders on Facebook.

The newly created position will be unpaid though Ms Ardern will be reimbursed for some costs.

"I believed it had more to do, and I knew that I would have the time to do it. And I certainly have the passion for it," Ms Ardern said of the envoy role.

"I also still feel a duty at a personal level to the community who are affected by this tragedy."

Mr Hipkins said with Ms Ardern as special envoy, he will be freed up to focus on domestic priorities.

"This allows me to remain focused on the cyclone recovery and addressing the cost of living pressures affecting New Zealanders," he said.

Last month, Mr Hipkins teased that Ms Ardern might accept a role with the Christchurch Call, as the fourth anniversary of the attacks neared.

Mr Hipkins became prime minister at the end of January when Ms Ardern stood down from the role, citing burnout.

Ms Ardern, who has remained as Mt Albert MP, will give her valedictory speech on Wednesday before ending her 15-year domestic political career and taking up the two roles.

The special envoy position will be reviewed at year's end, after the October 14 election.

The opposition has indicated they would consider appointing or retaining Ms Ardern in a role serving NZ abroad, given Ms Ardern's unprecedented global standing for a Kiwi prime minister.

"If there's work that would allow New Zealand's interests to be furthered on the world stage ... and we were presented with a case that a former prime minister could do that, then we would look favourably on it," Nicola Willis, deputy leader of the National party, said on Monday.

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