Jacinda Ardern choked back tears as she made an announcement some might not have seen coming — she was quitting as New Zealand's prime minister.
In almost six years as leader, she faced the aftermath of a massacre, but also delivered stinging rebukes to those questioning her age and gender.
Here a few key moments from her time in the job.
Handling of the Christchurch massacre
It was March 15, 2019, when a horrific mass shooting in Christchurch left 51 dead.
In the days and weeks that followed, Ms Ardern's response included long embraces with those affected as she headed out into the community:
After the attack, she also delivered these memorable words:
"We were not chosen for this act of violence because we condone racism, because we are an enclave for extremism. We were chosen for the very fact that we are none of these things.
"Because we represent diversity, kindness, compassion, a home for those who share our values, refuge for those who need it. And those values, I can assure you, will not and cannot be shaken by this attack."
The ABC's foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic said that her moral authority at the time will be part of her legacy, especially internationally:
"We all remember the scenes of her going down to Christchurch and greeting people and paying her respects and her emotional and extremely heartfelt tributes to those who were killed there, and the moral authority that she exercised in the wake of that," he says.
"The changes that were brought in New Zealand in the wake of the horrifying massacre, she rightly drew international praise for her moral clarity at that time and I think that is probably how most people will, at least internationally, remember her."
'Two women meet, it's not simply because of their gender'
A press conference last year with Finland's PM Sanna Marin, also a woman and also young at 37, saw one reporter ask if they were meeting "just because" of their similarities.
Her immediate response? Cutting the journalist off to say this:
"My first question is I wonder whether or not anyone ever asked Barack Obama and John Key if they met because they're of similar age.
"We of course have a higher proportion of men in politics — it's reality.
"Because two women meet, it's not simply because of their gender."
She said New Zealand exported $14 million in goods to Finland, while Finland exported $199 million into New Zealand, so there was "huge potential" in trade.
First world leader to take her baby to the UN
Just three months after her daughter Neve's birth, Ms Ardern was off to a peace summit at the UN.
Partner Clarke Gayford was the main caregiver, with the PM back at work after six weeks of maternity leave.
But she was still breastfeeding so New Zealand's "first baby" Neve had to go to New York too.
Mr Gayford said at the time: "I wish I could have captured the startled look on a Japanese delegation inside the UN yesterday who walked into a meeting room in the middle of a nappy change. Great yarn for her 21st."
Ms Ardern is only the second elected leader to give birth in office and the first to take maternity leave.
A tough COVID response
New Zealand arguably faced some of the strictest COVID restrictions in the world during the pandemic.
In 2020, the ABC's Laura Tingle wrote that at the time, it was another reason Australians might look wistfully at their neighbours:
"From Australia, we watched in shock, scepticism or admiration. Our political leaders were wrestling with the same issues, but prevaricating by Ardern's standards.
Yes, we had moved early to close our borders to China, our largest trading partner — but closing the borders completely? And shutting down the economy?
Our path was more gradual and the messages more mixed, to say the least. In Australia we were trying to have the best of both worlds: to limit the impact of the virus, but also to limit its economic impact by minimising the shutdown."
Some argued Ms Ardern's leadership in early 2020 was a "masterclass in crisis" response — and when Labour won a clear majority at the 2020 election, it was clearly the "COVID election".
But this year it will be about the economy, and the cost-of-living crisis hitting New Zealand, with polling late last year putting Labour at 33 per cent, with the opposition National Party on 37 per cent.
Keeping her cool on live TV during an earthquake
"We're just having a bit of an earthquake here, Ryan."
The PM said those words as she continued on with a live interview from the nation's parliament building.
The initial tremor of the magnitude-5.8 earthquake lasted more than 30 seconds, but caused no damage.
Her election at 37 — and a viral video on the second anniversary
There's no escaping that her victory at just 37 is a record that won't easily be eclipsed, especially after taking on the party's leadership just weeks out from the 2017 election.
It made her the youngest New Zealand PM in more than 150 years.
This video, released on the second anniversary of her government's win, speed-listed her achievements.
The list of 50 items then went viral and has been viewed millions of times:
