Jacinda Ardern lets the side down

Also if she wanted to resign to watch daytime TV, and eat cake that would be fine too. It's not a prison sentence.

vickymeldrew

Well, yes I hold my hands up and apologise for the headline on my post. Over the top - sorry.
However, I have always been irritated by the extreme reaction to Saint Jacinda. During the pandemic, I got cheesed off hearing how marvellous she was and what perfect policies she supported. The tide has turned and it seems she would struggle to be re-elected.
I would imagine it’s easier to run a country with 5 million inhabitants than the UK with 67 million.

She made some tough decisions during the pandemic which were not always appreciated at home, but in general NZ seemed to do better in health terms than many other countries. People forget that the pandemic was a very unusual situation and there were no past events that could be used to guide such decisions.
She seems like an honourable woman and it does make sense to step down now to give another leader a better chance of success in the election.

volver

Another voice of support for Ardern. If a male politician had resigned after 6 years in the job, having to cope with pandemics, terrorists and volcanic eruptions, would someone say they were letting the side down and probably just wanted to be at home with their baby?

Double standards there.

Yes, this is how I feel too. She's done an absolutely amazing job for some years and there is no reason why she should go on if she feels that she's done enough. I really admire her.

She has been a model PM done her best for her country and not panicked into doing the wrong thing by others. She at least is not accused of wasting thousands of pounds, cheating, lying, making laws with no intention of keeping and generally being totally untrustworthy. If you are looking to see who has "let the side down" I think you only need to look at 10 Downing Street , before commenting on Jacinda's decision. She appears to be making a considered decision and is thinking of what is best for her country too. Cant say the same for the self serving lot over here.

Surely anyone is entitled to resign from a job and why should all and sundry be informed why. Her life, her decision.

She has done very well and shoould be supported if she now needs amore time with her family.

Her life her decision for her and her family I applaud her

She has been courageous in admitting that she cannot cope with the situation.
And now I am putting my head above the parapet and saying that something has to give if both parents work full time. Children are farmed out to nurseries or have childminders and have little so called ’quality time’ with their parents.
House prices took off in the seventies with more women going back to work so they could increase the multiples for borrowing and buy more expensive properties. Rents increased with the rise in house prices had and now both partners HAVE to work whether they want to or not, and still cannot get on to the property ladder

@galaxy with all respect, if you are a long term visitor to NZ, with the lifestyle of living between 2 or more countries, then you are definitely speaking from a position of privilege compared to your average NZer.

She's been a successful Prime Minister for 6 years and is entitled to say that she is resigning for whatever reason. Some male politicians would do well to take a leaf out of her book!

And if she wants to spend more time with her daughter good on her!
She's been through enough as a PM as it is.

Not sure which 'side' she's letting down. From my perspective, she's led her country through a very difficult period and irrespective of whether some New Zealanders haven't been happy with her approach, there has definitely not been any of the duplicitous and sleazy behaviour we've seen here from our leading ministers. She's had the sensibility to step down when she feels it's the right time for her, something which our past PM BJ would have done well to emulate. So if it's about letting women down, I personally think she's shown a degree of sense and courage of which our own male ministers have been totally devoid.

vickymeldrew

Disappointed that New Zealand’s Prime Minister has resigned saying she ‘doesn’t have enough left in the tank’.
My guess is that she wants to spend more time with her daughter but doesn’t like to admit it.

Why has she 'let the side down' vickymeldrew? If she feels she isn't/can't give her best now then surely she's allowed to step down and let someone else do the job rather than soldier on doing it badly? If she were a man, would you say the same?

I wasn't really aware of NZ lockdown rulings but they sound bit bonkers! If it's a no go area, it's a no go area! Not let them in if they're famous?!? And repatriation THEN lock in would have been sensible.

vickymeldrew

Disappointed that New Zealand’s Prime Minister has resigned saying she ‘doesn’t have enough left in the tank’.
My guess is that she wants to spend more time with her daughter but doesn’t like to admit it.

Not a very supportive comment. Blamey and lacking

Jacinda has been our prime minister through natural disasters, mass shooting and a pandemic. The lockdown saved many lives and stopped our health system from being over run.
She's endured hatred and poisinous vitriol. I don't know how she endured it but she must be a very strong woman. There must be a limit to how many years anyone could put up with it and she's wisely decided to leave politics and do something else.

How has she let the side down? She hasn't. She has humility to do what she has done. N-Z have been very lucky to have her

Good for her, pity more politicians didn't stand down when they can't give 100%, she's done a good job, let's be thankful for that

Everything you have posted Maddyone concours with what I have read and heard others say.
The one thing that rankles with me is "she was wise to leave before she was pushed"
Wise? (I could substitute another word), probably, but I would like to see politicians be the recipients of the conclusions to their actions.
It's been said she will earn millions on the after dinner speech circuit, and or work for one of the world's organisations.
Not a bad gig if you can get it.

I thought she was doing an impressive job…..until I learned how unpopular she actually is in NZ. The disquiet is very much increasing. Probably the reason she is going now.

My brother in NZ and I both think.the same. Empty tank. She is skin and bone and possibly unwell. The press can't deal with a politician telling the truth. It cannot be so, they cry!

She is hardly "letting the side down" by resigning and saying that she has not the requisite energy (or health) for the task any longer.

Anyone who feels they cannot do their job well any longer, should resign.

She has been subjected to unprecedented levels of abuse and vitriol, including death threats. Particularly by anti vaccers who as we know have threatened the lives of ordinary doctors, nurses and other NHS staff who are carrying out vaccinations in this country. I don't wonder that she can't take the stress any longer and is near to collapse. Women MPs here too get much higher levels of abuse than male MPs. But all politicians can get abuse. Look at the poor man who was shot in his constituency. He was very compassionate and helpful to people with ME. Look at Trump supporters in America attacking and threatening politicians and police in the seat of government. Democracy is everywhere under threat. No wonder exposed individuals can't take the strain.

I think she is a very wise, brave lady. I don't know much about NZ politics but it seems she has served her country in very difficult times and realises that she is running out of fuel. Letting the side down doesn’t come into it!!!