Jacinda Ardern lets the side down

Kandinsky

There is absolutely nothing wrong with crying, but getting all emotional when you’re just handing your notice in is a bit ridiculous imo.
But from what I’ve read her popularity had plummeted so maybe that’s what she was emotionally about.

And no, I’m not a man

I think it happens when everything they have achieved, and the accompanying toil, rushes past them in their leaving speech. It just overwhelms them for a few seconds. It was the same for Merkel in her outgoing speech when she looked back on the reunification of Germany and broke down relating it to what she had brought about. I don't think crying is ridiculous.

I’d hardly say “she’s letting the side down”, more a realisation that it’s time to move on. Good for her to realise that before she completely burns out.

maddyone

Jacinda Ardern hasn’t let the side down, she has jumped before she was pushed. A sensible decision. She’s no longer very popular here in New Zealand because of the damage brought on to the economy during the extremely long and and often viewed as harsh, lockdown. Many, many businesses have gone to the wall without the tourist trade. It’s possible that New Zealanders don’t realise that the tourist trade would have stopped anyway because of the lockdowns elsewhere. Also the health service is struggling here just as much as in the UK. People pay to visit a GP, between from £25 up to £60/70 per visit. They then pay for their drugs, and GPs are not allowed to prescribe all drugs as they see fit, only the one or two that the state agrees to. When there are a certain number of people on a waiting list the list is closed. You can’t even get on the list. Anyone who can afford it pays for private insurance. This information came from my GP daughter who is working on New Zealand at the moment. The country is generally fed up with Jacinda and a Nationalist government is predicted at the next election. There is also rampant inflation, yesterday it was reported that fruit and vegetable inflation is running at 30%. It’s easy to see things through rose coloured specs from the other side of the world. I’m in New Zealand now and have been for the last couple of months. I’m looking forward to going home in a couple of weeks though.

Thanks, interesting observation.
Puts things in perspective.

I dare say Jacinda Ardern is more popular in the UK than at home.
Boris was more popular abroad too and Mrs T was highly thought of in the US.
I think that's just the way of the world.

Thank you Maddyzone for an illuminating post.

Fleurpepper

How do we know what is behind it- and why that made her particularly emotional. Illness for her of anyone close, problem with toddler, whatever- we just don't know.

That's right, we just don't know.
It could be online threats etc. although I hope not.

I wonder which "side" she has let down.

She is an intelligent compassionate woman who has served her country well and has the emotional intelligence to recognise when she has given of her best and it is time to move on.

Would that other politicians (by definition mostly male) were so insightful and brave.

She has not let anyone down, but is a shining example to us all of good sense and integrity.

I think if you live in New Zealand or are long term visiting New Zealand, you’re likely to have a better understanding of the situation here. As a visitor, I’m not partisan, I have no allegiance to any political party in New Zealand, unlike most residents here. I have watched the news broadcasts and spoken to many people here, and I have concluded that whilst Jacinda still has supporters, her popularity has deminished hugely and the reason seems to be, as I said earlier, the excessively long lockdown which effectively cut off New Zealand from the rest of the world and caused many businesses to fail. Added to that, the rampant inflation. People are worried about the cost of living, which is very high and rapidly moving upwards, and they are very concerned about the poor health provision. These problems are also affecting the rest of the world too, it is not unique to New Zealand, nor to the UK but naturally people blame their politicians for the situation, fairly or unfairly.
I have seen people interviewed on the news programmes here in New Zealand who remain very, very angry because they were outside New Zealand when the lockdown occurred and they were unable to get home for two years because their names didn’t win a place to come home in the lottery (or whatever it was called) and yet meanwhile they were able to see celebrities allowed to enter New Zealand, whilst they, as citizens, were locked out! Indeed my own daughter and family were able to secure entry to New Zealand during the tightest of the lockdown because they are doctors, and New Zealand is suffering a severe shortage of doctors and teachers and other professionals. Apparently many medics are actually leaving New Zealand, which surprised me since New Zealand’s working conditions for medics is viewed positively by those working elsewhere but clearly not by those who actually live here normally.
As I said, I have no allegiance to any political party here in New Zealand at all. I think Jacinda was wise to go now, not because she wants to spend more time with her daughter, who is nearly five years old and about to start school, because if that was her wish, she would surely have done that during her daughter’s earlier years rather than now, but nonetheless she is wise to go now, with her pride intact, rather than suffer the humiliation of defeat at the next election. This way she will probably end up with a job on the world stage, maybe the WHO or similar. I’m sure Jacinda could have got married and spent more time with her child when she was a baby had she really wanted to do that. Jacinda has jumped before she was pushed, and in my view, that’s a sensible decision. She walks away with her head held high and her pride intact.

@maddyone
With all respect, I suspect you are coming from a place of privilege. If you are a long term visitor, flitting between NZ and the UK (or any other country), the people with who you associate will also hold the views of the privileged and you definitely aren’t seeing the wider picture. Coming back to NZ during lockdown was about securing a place in MIQ and there was no way the floodgates should have been opened to the virus after all the hard work of the communities living here to contain it. I know a few people who came back to NZ really quickly once the writing was on the wall -it was those who waited who paid the price. And as for the celebrity thing, that was completely over hyped by the media - there was a steady stream of people moving through MIQ. I suspect the main reason for Jacinda’s departure is the foul misogyny she has received, largely whipped up by anti-vaxxers, the far right and conspiracy theorists. If your 5 year old child is being threatened with murder and rape on alternative media sites, it’s time to take your intelligence and integrity elsewhere.

www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300788875/do-you-want-the-heartwarming-version-of-jacinda-arderns-story-or-the-chilling-one

With all respect someone holding a different view to you doesnt mean they are speaking from a place of privilege.

I think she’s amazing, NZ have been so happy to have her and she’s being very honest…. I think good for her, and I’m aware many kiwis are not behind her, at the end of the day it’s just a job and she deserves a life ! Good luck to her I say and wish we’d had a Jacinda here in the UK !!

Whose side is she letting down? Good for her, she’s recognised she has reached her limit and is brave enough to know when to go. Surely that's a better exit than struggling, failing and being booted out in the unkind manner the politics evoke for those who fail to meet the mark.

I would add to this that maybe we need to remember whilst our population is immense compared to NZ Arden put lives before the economy and perhaps people should remember that ! Both NZ and the UK are Islands, if only we’d taken such quick and decisive action ….. people have very short memories ! We have a large percentage of deaths AND a wrecked economy and a government full of scandal and corruption !

It takes a strong person to recognise when you are done. I wish Boris had been as emotionally intelligent. I wish her well in her life going forward.

As she said she has given her all and now she’s running out of fuel . I think she’s been a good PM I wish she were ours .

I’ve had a lot of time for her in the past but I don’t know much about New Zealand politics. I just don’t understand why it makes any difference if she is male or female. She is/was a prime minister and a leader. Is her sex really important?

As I remember in the recent ‘battle’ for leadership of the Tory party, Ben Wallace, the excellent Defence Secretary was asked if he would run. Apparently he would have been a popular choice. He cited family as one of the reasons he didn’t. No one saying that he had let the side down! I am sure many, including myself, admired him for his priorities. And he is still in charge of Defence with no opprobrium levelled against him. Different for men still, isn’t it!

Rather unkind I think. What side? Women, mothers, political party?

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!!!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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