WELLINGTON: On her last day as prime minister, Jacinda Ardern gave an emotional farewell speech on Tuesday. She thanked the people of New Zealand for their generosity and compassion while also expressing her readiness to become a mother and a sister. Jacinda Ardern bids emotional farewell on last day as New Zealand’s PM
Days after shocking the entire world by stating she had “no more in the tank” to lead the country and would resign, the 42-year-old arrived to a gathering of lawmakers and Maori elders in the small hamlet of Ratana, north of Wellington, and was immediately besieged by fans looking for pictures.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the greatest privilege of my life,” she told the gathering in a speech as Jacinda Ardern bids emotional farewell on last day as New Zealand’s PM.
She will resign on Wednesday and be replaced by the new Labour party leader, Chris Hipkins.
Ardern was at Ratana for an annual visit, joining Hipkins and opposition leaders for a weeklong festival honouring the birth of the Maori prophet Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana.
She escorted members of her party onto the community grounds as a brass band performed while donning a korowai, a traditional Maori cloak, over her shoulders. Elders spoke about Ardern in the speeches and accompanying songs and dances with humour and love.
“Thanks so much for teaching us to love quickly,” one elder told Ardern.
Ardern responded, saying she that hadn’t planned to speak but that those there refused to give her an out.
“My overall experience in this job of New Zealand and New Zealanders in this job has been one of love, empathy and kindness,” she said.
After a massacre that targeted Muslims, the left-leaning worldwide superstar garnered headlines for bringing her infant to a United Nations conference and donning a headscarf. She claimed she was leaving the job with love in her heart, despite the fact that right-wing fanatics turned against her and harassed her online.
“I want you to know I leave with a greater love and affection for Aotearoa New Zealand and its people than when I started.”
Before leaving for the grounds, Ardern spoke with the media for what may have been her final time as prime minister. She grinned widely while rejecting to address any political queries, stating that her successor will now be in charge of doing so.
“I am ready to be lots of things. I’m ready to be a back bench MP (member of parliament). I’m ready to be a sister and a mum,” she said.
Her daughter Neve is 4 years old and starts school in June.
Hipkins, the country’s former COVID minister, was the only person nominated to take over as Labour Party leader. He was first elected to parliament in 2008.
