New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will arguably go down as one of the most memorable leaders in modern political history. During her first term in office, she guided her country through its worst-ever terrorist attack, a global pandemic, and a deadly volcanic eruption.
When elected in 2017, Ardern became the world's youngest female head of government and a year later became the just second elected world leader in history to give birth while in office.
With that in mind, it's fair to say that she's had a pretty busy run so far, but it still came as a shock to the world this week when the now 40-year-old announced her resignation, citing burnout as the reason behind her decision saying that she "no longer has enough in the tank".
Ardern announced that she will be leaving her post on February 7 and during an emotional speech at the annual caucus meeting for New Zealand's Labour party, she said: "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.”
READ MORE: Manchester Dogs Home’s longest-term resident hopeful 2023 will be his year
Tonnes of tributes from New Zealand and around the world have flooded in for Jacinda who was admired for her progressive politics, record breaking tenure and swift and thoughtful responses to national and international tragedies.
Who is Jacinda Ardern?
Jacinda was born on July 26, 1980 to Ross and Laurell Ardern in the city of Hamilton which is two hours away from South Auckland. Her father was a policeman and her mother was a cook.
A Mormon, Jacinda says that the poverty stricken towns that she grew up in helped shape her political views and by the age of 17 she was a Labour Party supporter. Ardern achieved a degree in communication studies in public relations at university before she began working for New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark.
For the following years Ardern was a prominent member of the Labour Party. In 2017 she became the youngest leader of the Labour Party in its history, with the general election just seven weeks away.
The same year she was sworn in as Prime Minister after the Labour Party, Green Party and New Zealand First agreed from a coalition government.
Five reasons why she is so loved
Her handling of the pandemic - Jacinda gained worldwide notoriety for her no-nonsense handling of the covid pandemic. In June 2020 New Zealand became one of the first countries to declare that it was 'covid free' after strict measures on it's borders and the country's lockdown rules.
Her strict measures meant that covid cases in the country were kept relatively low compared to rest of the world which was battling with the disease. The World Health Organisation praised New Zealand for it's response and held it as an example for other countries.
Her handling of the Christ Church mass shooting - New Zealand was sent into turmoil when a lone gunman entered two mosques and began firing. The terrorist attack which occurred on March 15 2019 not only shocked the nation but the world.
51 people were killed and 40 were injured. Jacinda travelled to Christchurch to meet the families of the victim and first responders and during a speech in Parliament she vowed to never speak the name of the attacker.
Ardern who was praised globally for her response to the tragedy said: "Speak the names of those who were lost rather than the name of the man who took them...he will, when I speak, be nameless."
Discover, learn, grow. We are Curiously. Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Her championing of gay marriage - During her early years in politics Ardern had a stint in England when she worked in the UK Cabinet Office. When she returned to New Zealand in 2008 she was became an elected MP where she was known to champion gay rights and the eradication of child poverty and homelessness.
Her support of gay marriage was even more important knowing that she was born a Mormon. In 2005 she left the Mormon church over it's stance on gay rights saying that she could "never reconcile what I saw as discrimination in a religion that was otherwise very focused on tolerance and kindness,".
History as the youngest serving female leader - Throughout her trailblazing career Ardern broke records. In 2008 she became the youngest sitting member of parliament, almost a decade later she became the youngest leader of the Labour Party and then eventually becoming the youngest female head of government in the world when she became Prime Minister aged 37.
Gave birth while in office - In January 2018 Ardern made it public that she was expecting her first child in June. That made her New Zealand's first prime minister to be pregnant in office.
Following the birth of her daughter she became only the second elected leader of government to give birth while in office and she returned to work just six weeks later.
READ NEXT:
- Inside the 'Tardis' bungalow hidden in Greater Manchester
- Tyson Fury touches down at Manchester Airport after family holiday to Tenerife
- Video from Lewis Capaldi concert shows security removing woman from crowd after fight broke out at AO Arena
- The Greater Manchester school where bullying is common and students are exposed to 'foul' language
- 19 obscure TV shows from childhood that no one else seems to remember
