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| Jacinda Ardern: Can 'stardust' oust experience in New Zealand? | Jacinda Ardern: Can 'stardust' oust experience in New Zealand? |
| (1 day later) | |
| On Jacinda Ardern's first day as New Zealand's opposition Labour leader, she was thrown a question it's hard to believe is still being asked of politicians in 2017. | On Jacinda Ardern's first day as New Zealand's opposition Labour leader, she was thrown a question it's hard to believe is still being asked of politicians in 2017. |
| "A lot of women in New Zealand feel like they have to make a choice between having babies and having a career or continuing their career. So is that a decision you feel you have to make or that you feel you've already made?" | "A lot of women in New Zealand feel like they have to make a choice between having babies and having a career or continuing their career. So is that a decision you feel you have to make or that you feel you've already made?" |
| But in a way, that question from a TV talk show host was the best thing that could have happened to her that day. | But in a way, that question from a TV talk show host was the best thing that could have happened to her that day. |
| In a world of instant outrage, the ensuing spat propelled the story of her promotion to front pages worldwide, raising her profile and burnishing the "outsider" status which could see her take the top job in next Saturday's election. | |
| To the outside world, Ms Ardern appears to have come from nowhere in this election, but she's been rising through the Labour ranks since she first entered parliament in 2008, at the age of 28. | To the outside world, Ms Ardern appears to have come from nowhere in this election, but she's been rising through the Labour ranks since she first entered parliament in 2008, at the age of 28. |
| She has been involved in left-wing politics since her teens, working in the office of Helen Clark, New Zealand's last Labour prime minister, and spending time in the UK as policy adviser to Tony Blair. | She has been involved in left-wing politics since her teens, working in the office of Helen Clark, New Zealand's last Labour prime minister, and spending time in the UK as policy adviser to Tony Blair. |
| She has talked about how growing up in Hamilton seeing "children without shoes on their feet or anything to eat for lunch" inspired her to enter politics. Tackling such inequality has been a central part of her election campaign. | She has talked about how growing up in Hamilton seeing "children without shoes on their feet or anything to eat for lunch" inspired her to enter politics. Tackling such inequality has been a central part of her election campaign. |
| Veteran political commentator Colin James, who has been observing her career since around that first election, says she always had "the substance and potential to go right to the top". | Veteran political commentator Colin James, who has been observing her career since around that first election, says she always had "the substance and potential to go right to the top". |
| "A lot of people just saw a flighty young woman," he says of their first interactions. "But I saw an intelligent person who thought deeply about things." | "A lot of people just saw a flighty young woman," he says of their first interactions. "But I saw an intelligent person who thought deeply about things." |
| Ms Ardern was brought up a Mormon - though left the faith over its opposition to same-sex marriage - which Mr James says gave her a "solidity". | Ms Ardern was brought up a Mormon - though left the faith over its opposition to same-sex marriage - which Mr James says gave her a "solidity". |
| Being 'exactly who I am' | Being 'exactly who I am' |
| Ms Ardern took over the Labour leadership on 31 July. Although she was a frontrunner, she said she had an hour's notice that Andrew Little was about to stand down, conceding he could not steer the party to victory on 23 September. | Ms Ardern took over the Labour leadership on 31 July. Although she was a frontrunner, she said she had an hour's notice that Andrew Little was about to stand down, conceding he could not steer the party to victory on 23 September. |
| "It wasn't a lot of time to prepare," she told New Zealand outlet Newshub. "But in a way it's meant that I had to run the campaign as myself, be exactly who I am, run a lot based on instinct." | "It wasn't a lot of time to prepare," she told New Zealand outlet Newshub. "But in a way it's meant that I had to run the campaign as myself, be exactly who I am, run a lot based on instinct." |
| That self-reliance kicked in with that baby question on day one. The response from the outspokenly feminist leader was not kneejerk anger, but nuance. | That self-reliance kicked in with that baby question on day one. The response from the outspokenly feminist leader was not kneejerk anger, but nuance. |
| "I have no problem with you asking me that question because I have been very open about discussing that dilemma because I think probably lots of women face it," she told the host, Jesse Mulligan. | "I have no problem with you asking me that question because I have been very open about discussing that dilemma because I think probably lots of women face it," she told the host, Jesse Mulligan. |
| Her dilemma, she said, was no different from that faced by any New Zealand woman in the workplace. | Her dilemma, she said, was no different from that faced by any New Zealand woman in the workplace. |
| But when the question became that day's talking point, overshadowing all other policy issues, a later interviewer implied it was reasonable for employers to want to know if their staff would be taking time off to have children. | But when the question became that day's talking point, overshadowing all other policy issues, a later interviewer implied it was reasonable for employers to want to know if their staff would be taking time off to have children. |
| An agitated Ms Arden told Mark Richardson his view was "totally unacceptable in 2017", adding: "It is a woman's decision about when they choose to have children and it should not predetermine whether or not they are given a job or have job opportunities." | An agitated Ms Arden told Mark Richardson his view was "totally unacceptable in 2017", adding: "It is a woman's decision about when they choose to have children and it should not predetermine whether or not they are given a job or have job opportunities." |
| "I laughed so hard when she pointed her finger at Mark Richardson and shut him down so deftly," says Lizzie Marvelly, a columnist at the New Zealand Herald, editor of feminist blog site Villainesse.com and a close friend of Ms Ardern. | "I laughed so hard when she pointed her finger at Mark Richardson and shut him down so deftly," says Lizzie Marvelly, a columnist at the New Zealand Herald, editor of feminist blog site Villainesse.com and a close friend of Ms Ardern. |
| "I think she handled the questions as well as could be expected. Characteristically, she was open about her personal situation, as she'd chosen to speak about it previously, but defended the rights of other women - which are enshrined in law, I should add. | "I think she handled the questions as well as could be expected. Characteristically, she was open about her personal situation, as she'd chosen to speak about it previously, but defended the rights of other women - which are enshrined in law, I should add. |
| "I wouldn't have expected her to react any other way," says Ms Marvelly. | "I wouldn't have expected her to react any other way," says Ms Marvelly. |
| The anxiety of leadership | The anxiety of leadership |
| But as female leaders have found before, appearing tough and capable is not enough - you have to walk the tightrope of being seen to have emotions, but not be driven by them. | But as female leaders have found before, appearing tough and capable is not enough - you have to walk the tightrope of being seen to have emotions, but not be driven by them. |
| Ms Ardern seems not to have shied from that, openly crying at the opening of a memorial to suicide victims, and speaking frankly about her own struggles with anxiety. | Ms Ardern seems not to have shied from that, openly crying at the opening of a memorial to suicide victims, and speaking frankly about her own struggles with anxiety. |
| "I'm constantly anxious about making mistakes," she told Next magazine in June this year, shortly after becoming deputy leader. "Everything in politics feels so fragile; just like that [clicks fingers] you could stumble and that's forever what you'll be known for." | "I'm constantly anxious about making mistakes," she told Next magazine in June this year, shortly after becoming deputy leader. "Everything in politics feels so fragile; just like that [clicks fingers] you could stumble and that's forever what you'll be known for." |
| Becoming party leader would just mean having "more people to let down", she said. | Becoming party leader would just mean having "more people to let down", she said. |
| "I think to have a woman in such an important role speak openly about issues that many women face has been powerful," says Ms Marvelly. | "I think to have a woman in such an important role speak openly about issues that many women face has been powerful," says Ms Marvelly. |
| "We have devastating problems with mental health in New Zealand, so having a politician be open about sometimes feeling vulnerable is both refreshing and, I think, helpful." | "We have devastating problems with mental health in New Zealand, so having a politician be open about sometimes feeling vulnerable is both refreshing and, I think, helpful." |
| Colin James says he thought at the time of the interview that it was a mistake for someone even quietly holding out for the top job to be so open about their nerves. | Colin James says he thought at the time of the interview that it was a mistake for someone even quietly holding out for the top job to be so open about their nerves. |
| Weeks later, she was opposition leader, leading him to ask: "Was it a mistake, or had she tapped in to something?" | Weeks later, she was opposition leader, leading him to ask: "Was it a mistake, or had she tapped in to something?" |
| Will the 'stardust' settle? | Will the 'stardust' settle? |
| Jacinda Arden has been the politician it's been OK to find cool for some years now - she DJs, she swears in interviews, she goes to Pride marches, she dresses well. She's called herself an "acceptable nerd". | Jacinda Arden has been the politician it's been OK to find cool for some years now - she DJs, she swears in interviews, she goes to Pride marches, she dresses well. She's called herself an "acceptable nerd". |
| Since her elevation, Labour has shot up from some of its lowest polling under Mr Little. Labour is now looking like it could, in coalition, take office from the incumbent Nationals under Bill English. | Since her elevation, Labour has shot up from some of its lowest polling under Mr Little. Labour is now looking like it could, in coalition, take office from the incumbent Nationals under Bill English. |
| There's no doubt, however, that she is the contender most lacking in experience. | There's no doubt, however, that she is the contender most lacking in experience. |
| Although she speaks forcefully on domestic issues, she has little to call on in terms of foreign policy experience bar her role as president of the International Union of Socialist Youth, a role which she says brought her into contact with global leaders. | Although she speaks forcefully on domestic issues, she has little to call on in terms of foreign policy experience bar her role as president of the International Union of Socialist Youth, a role which she says brought her into contact with global leaders. |
| In the recent Facebook Live interview with Newshub she seemed to excel at the lighter questions about cereal bars and Taylor Swift, but had no solid response to tougher questions about the Rohingya crisis or whether New Zealand was committed to military action against Islamist militants. | In the recent Facebook Live interview with Newshub she seemed to excel at the lighter questions about cereal bars and Taylor Swift, but had no solid response to tougher questions about the Rohingya crisis or whether New Zealand was committed to military action against Islamist militants. |
| Ms Marvelly notes that she hasn't really brought many of her own policies to the fore since assuming the leadership, "but with her delivering the message both the media and the public have really tuned in". | Ms Marvelly notes that she hasn't really brought many of her own policies to the fore since assuming the leadership, "but with her delivering the message both the media and the public have really tuned in". |
| Prime Minister Bill English, the former deputy prime minister and finance minister who took over the top job in December, has made her inexperience a key part of his re-election bid. | Prime Minister Bill English, the former deputy prime minister and finance minister who took over the top job in December, has made her inexperience a key part of his re-election bid. |
| "We can continue with the policies that have delivered us one of the fastest-growing economies in the developed world, or we can experiment with the vague and confusing policies proposed by our political rivals," he has said, dismissing his rival's rock star appeal. | "We can continue with the policies that have delivered us one of the fastest-growing economies in the developed world, or we can experiment with the vague and confusing policies proposed by our political rivals," he has said, dismissing his rival's rock star appeal. |
| "Now the stardust has settled, you're starting to see the policy," he said in a rowdy leaders' debate, where he attempted to list a raft of tax increases he said Labour wanted to bring in. | "Now the stardust has settled, you're starting to see the policy," he said in a rowdy leaders' debate, where he attempted to list a raft of tax increases he said Labour wanted to bring in. |
| "This stardust won't settle, because none of us should settle," Ms Ardern bit back. | "This stardust won't settle, because none of us should settle," Ms Ardern bit back. |
| New Zealand election: The main party manifestos | New Zealand election: The main party manifestos |
| Nationals | Nationals |
| Labour | Labour |
| Ms Ardern certainly seems to tap into the modern global demand for a new breed of politician, the demand that saw the surprise elevation of the likes of Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders and the election victories of Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron. | Ms Ardern certainly seems to tap into the modern global demand for a new breed of politician, the demand that saw the surprise elevation of the likes of Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders and the election victories of Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron. |
| It is the sense that authenticity is as important as experience, if not more so, and empathy as powerful as authority. | It is the sense that authenticity is as important as experience, if not more so, and empathy as powerful as authority. |
| Labour's pledge to cut immigration to protect public services even saw the Wall Street Journal compare her to Donald Trump. | Labour's pledge to cut immigration to protect public services even saw the Wall Street Journal compare her to Donald Trump. |
| Mr James calls that comparison "nonsense" but says there is no doubt she represents the "something different" that younger voters are clamouring for. | Mr James calls that comparison "nonsense" but says there is no doubt she represents the "something different" that younger voters are clamouring for. |
| In making the very "millennial" issues of mental health, affordable housing and student debt a key part of their election campaign, there's no doubt that Ms Ardern and Labour are seeking to appeal to younger voters. | In making the very "millennial" issues of mental health, affordable housing and student debt a key part of their election campaign, there's no doubt that Ms Ardern and Labour are seeking to appeal to younger voters. |
| The question on 23 September will be whether those young people translate support to actually turning out to vote, and whether difference is enough to oust experience. | The question on 23 September will be whether those young people translate support to actually turning out to vote, and whether difference is enough to oust experience. |