Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

NZ prime minister Ardern tackles tragedy with empathy, and resolve

Scarcely 18 months in office, Jacinda Ardern faces an era-defining tragedy for her country -- and is winning praise for meeting the moment with a deft mix of empathy and resolve.

Tragedies like the murder of 50 Muslim worshippers in Christchurch can shape nations.


They can also derail political careers and cement a leader's place in the history books -- for good or for ill.

Barack Obama's tearful public appearance after 20 elementary school children were murdered at Sandy Hook in 2012 and his singing of 'Amazing Grace' at the memorial for slain pastor Clementa Pinckney were seminal moments of his eight years in the White House.

Vladimir Putin's first months in office were thoroughly overshadowed by images of him holidaying on the Black Sea as all 118 submariners aboard the sunken Kursk lay dead.

Within hours of the mosque massacres, Ardern was in Christchurch, wearing a headscarf in a poignant show of solidarity with victims' families.

The next day, in the capital Wellington, she put on the headscarf again and was seen in emotional embraces with members of the shellshocked Muslim community.

The heartfelt expressions of solidarity and shared pain embodied the sense of vulnerability many Kiwis now feel, and offered a powerful rebuttal of the politics of hate.

"She never had to deal with something so horrific," said Vicki Spencer, of the University of Otago's politics department, "nor has any other New Zealand Prime Minister."

But she quickly moved beyond the role of consoler-in-chief to confront the challenges posed by an Australian white supremacist who, unbeknownst to any security agency, was able to come to her country, legally purchase weapons of war, and devastate the nation.

Within hours of the tragedy, Ardern started tackling those challenges, declaring: "I can tell you right now, our gun laws will change."

"I know that there is, understandably, grief in New Zealand right now, but there is anger too, there are questions that need to be answered," she said later in one of many televised interviews, the tone both reassuring and firm.

"Empathy has always been one of her strengths and never has it shown more," said David Farrar of the popular politically-focused Kiwiblog.

"The picture of her in Christchurch wearing a headscarf looking devastated is a powerful iconic image. I think Ardern has been near perfect in her response to the tragedy."

- Baby politics -

Until the gunman walked into the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch on Friday afternoon, Ardern was better known around the world as a new mother holding down a difficult and busy job.

She became an instant champion for working women the world over when she brought her infant daughter Neve onto the floor of the UN Assembly in New York last year.

Becoming only the second prime minister in the world to give birth while in office -- after Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto in 1990 -- allowed the leader of a small, remote nation of just 4.5 million people to enjoy an extraordinarily high profile.

She has graced talk show host Stephen Colbert's couch, met with celebrities such as Anne Hathaway and shared parenting tips with the panel of NBC's Today Show.

Amid a sea of conservative leaders, the 38-year-old has become a hero to the disgruntled centre-left around the world.

Like Canadian Prime minister Justin Trudeau, her advocacy for climate action and gender equality has led her to be branded the anti-Trump.

Like Trudeau, Ardern has not been shy about expressing her displeasure at US President Donald Trump's politics or leveraging his unpopularity in New Zealand to boost her own.

When Trump called to ask what he could do to help in the wake of the shootings, Ardern had no qualms about divulging their usually private leader-to-leader chat.

"He asked what he could do, and I think I simply conveyed the sentiment that exists here within New Zealand. My message was sympathy and love for all Muslim communities," she said in a press conference broadcast around the world.

According to Spencer, that message to Trump was "clearly genuine and has resonated strongly with New Zealanders."

Despite such a sure political touch, Ardern's lustre had been starting to fade at home.

Her legislative agenda had been stymied repeatedly by wily coalition partner, Winston Peters and his populist New Zealand First party.

At a crisis cabinet meeting Monday, she harnessed the political moment to sweep aside Peters' longstanding opposition to gun control.

The 73-year-old could do little more than stand beside her at the podium and acknowledge "the reality is that after 1pm on Friday our world changed forever."

So did New Zealand politics.

More For You

Dua Lipa Engaged to Callum Turner After a Year Together

Dua Lipa confirms engagement to Callum Turner after months of speculation

Instagram/dualipa

Dua Lipa engaged to Callum Turner after a year of dating, calls it ‘a really special feeling’

After months of speculation, Dua Lipa has officially confirmed her engagement to British actor Callum Turner. The pop star shared the news in a recent interview, calling it an emotional and meaningful step in their relationship.

The couple, who have been together for over a year, first met in London and reconnected a year later under unexpected circumstances. Dua described their journey as one filled with “sliding doors moments,” including discovering they were reading the same book the night they re-met.

Keep ReadingShow less
WTC-final-AUS-SA

Kagiso Rabada celebrates with teammate Kyle Verreynne after taking the wicket of Alex Carey during day two of the WTC Final 2025 between South Africa and Australia at Lord's on June 12, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

WTC final: South Africa confident despite big target at Lord’s

SOUTH AFRICA remain confident about chasing down a big target in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s, despite the match being dominated by the bowlers so far.

David Bedingham, who top scored with 45 in South Africa’s first innings total of 138, said the team believed they could chase whatever target Australia set.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chitrangda Singh Joins Housefull 5 and Raat Akeli Hai 2

Chitrangda Singh

Chitrangda Singh on reclaiming her space in Bollywood with 'Housefull 5' and Netflix’s 'Raat Akeli Hai 2'

Whether taking long breaks or making unpredictable choices, Chitrangda Singh has always followed her own rhythm in a notoriously fast-paced film industry.

The ever-graceful actress adds fresh chapters to her cinematic journey with two dramatically different projects. Just a week ago, she made a splash on the big screen in the mega-budget comedy multistarrer Housefull 5, part of a popular franchise. Next, she will shift gears for Raat Akeli Hai 2 – the dark, layered Netflix sequel to the gripping whodunnit that captivated audiences during lockdown.

Keep ReadingShow less
Iran-Israel-Getty

Smoke rises from a location allegedly targeted in Israel's wave of strikes on Tehran, Iran, on early morning of June 13, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Israel strikes Iran nuclear sites, top military officials killed

ISRAEL carried out a series of airstrikes on Iran on Friday, targeting nearly 100 locations, including nuclear sites and military command centres. The strikes killed senior officials, including the armed forces chief and top nuclear scientists, according to Iranian reports.

In response, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel would face a "bitter and painful" outcome. The Iranian military said there would be "no limits" to its response.

Keep ReadingShow less
Air-India-crash-site-Getty

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel inspect the site after Air India flight 171 crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad, on June 13, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Air India crash: Rescue teams search site where at least 265 died

RESCUE teams with sniffer dogs searched the crash site on Friday after an Air India flight heading to London crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad, killing at least 265 people on board and on the ground.

The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed on Thursday. One person survived the crash, which left the tail of the aircraft lodged in the second floor of a hostel housing medical staff from a nearby hospital.

Keep ReadingShow less