Jacinda Ardern lets the side down

FannyCornforth

Casdon

What a mean heading. What side has she let down?
Admitting that you have no more to give and stepping down at that point is admirable whatever you think of somebody’s politics or how well they have done the job.

Totally agree.
I was quite astonished at the title.
Not being funny at all (honest!) - vicky, what do you mean by ‘letting the side down’?
I know very little of NZ politics, but I thought that she was admired world over for her strength and quality of leadership

She has shown strength of character and leadership through very difficult times.

However, I do know New Zealanders who are less than impressed with her decisions during Covid.
But that's always the way with politics. Can't please all of the people all of the time.

I don't know why she has resigned but at least she didn't have to be praised out with a winkle picker like some.

She led a coalition govt for three years before getting a labour majority in 2020. It takes real skill and diplomacy to do that and having got 50% of the vote in 2020 that's still 50% of the population who didn't vote for her. I wish we had more politicians like her here rather than women who believe they have to behave like men to have any credibility.

She appears to me to have done a splendid and compassionate job. I'm sorry she's standing down but I support her standing down stance.

Nearly six years is a long time for anyone to do such a demanding job.

How can anyone in this country criticise her for stopping now when we've had a PM who was outlasted by a lettuce?

Sadly went before she was pushed.
That gives her scope to return one day if she feels inclined.

So many politicians don't last that long at the very top, she has always caught my attention when speaking instead of mentally switching off when I hear some leaders spouting .

Good grief, upon reading the thread title I thought the worst, corruption or worse, something we are well acquainted with in our own government. A very misleading and undeserved title for such a strong inspirational woman.

She certainly hasn’t let anyone down, simply realised for whatever reason, it is time to step down…oh how I wish we could impress this move to many, supposedly, taking care of the country here.

Sorry rogue apostrophe.

Yes I think the New Zealand electorate has to some extent a different view to the 'international's view, that is often the case for politicians.

There a MN thread about this, where NZers seem to be fairly equally divided between those sorry to see her go, and those who are thinking ‘good riddance’.

I’m with all those who find this a mean-spirited thread title.
Perhaps OP would care to come back and explain her point of view?

I felt rather sad when I heard the news as I have huge respect for her and feel she was showing the world a different way to be a leading politician. However, I totally understand why she wouldn't wish to continue and I welcome her honesty, leading a country through such difficult times must sap every ounce of energy. I wish her well and hope she moves into another prominent world role when she is ready. Yes, I'm another who was rather shocked by the title!

Sallymander/henetha excellent posts. My thoughts exactly. OP's choice of headline is mean spirited.

Yes, a mean headline indeed. Respect to Jacinda Ardern for making what must have been a very difficult decision.
Better to resign than to go on with less than total commitment.

Sallymander what a glorious post

I rather think that it’s your thread title that’s “letting the side down” vickymeldrew.

Women pulling down other women and their achievements is something that I thought we had left in the past.
These are difficult and often dangerous times for women. The words we use to address each other has been weaponised against us as have the places and spaces we visit.

Nasty stuff

Whitewavemark2

I wish some of our politicians would recognise when they have “no more to give”. Some of them barely gave in the first place.

Or indeed had much to give.
Other than an overblown belief in their own non existent talents

BlueBelle

I think she’s done exactly the right thing she’s had a baby whilst in office no one should screw their lives up if they know they ve come to the end of their days

My NZ family say many over there haven’t been impressed with her but who knows she seems to have come out well on the world stage

Cant keep up with our lot without worrying or condemning others

Our NZ friends who we met up with recently said the same Bluebell, particularly as to how she handled the pandemic. Performance on a world stage doesn't always correlate to how the population of the country in question feel about their leader.

Dickens

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.

... this.

Yes of course.

I wish some of our politicians would recognise when they have “no more to give”. Some of them barely gave in the first place.

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.

... this.

She has been really remarkable with a gift for leadership and a heroine of the world stage but back home many in the business and farming fraternities have been against her "Leftist views" from the start.

I think it is very tough being a woman in politics.
Who can blame her for bowing out after 5+ years
Well done Jacinda!

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.

I admire her greatly. I’m sure she’s reached this decision for all the right reasons. I’ll never forget how her first thought, when the pandemic struck, was to protect the people in her country and wished that we’d had politicians that had behaved in that way. Anyway, am I right in thinking she isn’t resigning she just isn’t standing for re election?