Resignation of Jacinda Ardern

Resignation of Jacinda Ardern
Ardern in 2022
Date19–25 January 2023 (2023-01-19 – 2023-01-25)
Time1:00 pm (NZDT, UTC+13:00)
Duration6 days (full transition)
VenueNapier War Memorial Centre
LocationNapier, New Zealand
CauseOccupational burnout
ParticipantsJacinda Ardern
Chris Hipkins
Cindy Kiro

The resignation of Jacinda Ardern as the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and leader of the Labour Party was announced on 19 January 2023, at a press conference given by Ardern at the War Memorial Centre in Napier, Hawke's Bay.[1][2][3] Ardern, who had been in office since 2017, cited occupational burnout as the primary reason for her resignation. She stated that she "no longer had enough in the tank" to fulfil the demands of the premiership,[2][4] and that she would not be seeking re-election at 2023 New Zealand general election (the date of which she announced in the same speech).[5] She also expressed hope that she would spend more time with her family, and that she had left behind a legacy that one "can be kind, but strong" and "your own kind of leader – one that knows when it’s time to go."[3][5]

Ardern's resignation came at a time when her Labour Party was facing declining public opinion polls.[6] In the months leading up to her resignation, Labour's polling numbers had fallen below those of the opposition National Party.[7] Labour's declining popularity was attributed to the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic being one of the world's strictest and the rising cost of living.[8][9][10][11]

While some critiqued her government for policy failings,[12] she was also praised for her empathetic style of leadership, her government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand and to the Christchurch mosque shootings, and for empowering women, girls, and ethnic minorities.[13][2][14] Some expressed concern that abuse and often misogynistic threats Ardern received in the aftermath of her government's COVID-19 policies may have played a role, with threats against her having almost tripled over three years.[15][16] Such interpretations were denied by Ardern and criticised as patronising or sexist by others.[15][17] The announcement triggered a Labour Party leadership election, which saw Leader of the House Chris Hipkins elected unopposed to succeed her. Hipkins praised Ardern's leadership immediately and then condemned any threats made against her.[18] After Ardern officially tendered her resignation to Governor-General Cindy Kiro, Hipkins succeeded to the premiership at 11:30 on 25 January.[19]

  1. ^ "Jacinda Ardern to resign as prime minister in February". RNZ. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Jacinda Ardern's resignation says 5 things about women in power, according to a scholar who studies women in politics". Fortune. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Jacinda Ardern resigns as prime minister of New Zealand". the Guardian. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  4. ^ "New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern quits as leader, citing burnout". news.yahoo.com. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's full resignation speech". Stuff. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Sharp drop in support for Ardern and Labour latest poll shows". Radio New Zealand. 6 November 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  7. ^ Cooke, Henry (13 December 2022). "Jacinda Ardern will need more than a 'paring back' of policies to win". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  8. ^ Diaz, Jaclyn (22 January 2023). "New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern is resigning. Is there a lesson for other politicians?". NPR. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  9. ^ Cave, Damien (19 January 2023). "How Covid's Bitter Divisions Tarnished a Liberal Icon". New York Times. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  10. ^ Hendry-Tennent, Ireland (23 January 2023). "Claims Jacinda Ardern driven from top job by online hate 'ridiculous', 'melodramatic' – AM host Ryan Bridge". NewsHub. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  11. ^ Lau, Chris (15 August 2023). "This country has finally scrapped the last of its Covid restrictions". CNN. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  12. ^ Menon, Praveen (19 January 2023). "Jacinda Ardern leaves mixed legacy as she resigns as New Zealand prime minister". Reuters. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  13. ^ Tharoor, Ishaan (23 January 2023). "The many legacies of Jacinda Ardern". Washington Post. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  14. ^ Pannett, Rachel (19 January 2023). "5 moments that defined Jacinda Ardern's time as New Zealand prime minister". Washington Post. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Claims Jacinda Ardern driven from top job by online hate 'ridiculous', 'melodramatic' – AM host Ryan Bridge". Newshub. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Threats against Jacinda Ardern nearly triple amid rise in conspiracy groups". the Guardian. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  17. ^ McClure, Tess (20 January 2023). "Jacinda Ardern: political figures believe abuse and threats contributed to PM's resignation". the Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  18. ^ "New Zealand's newly confirmed PM condemns 'abhorrent' abuse of Jacinda Ardern". The Independent. 22 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  19. ^ "Chris Hipkins sworn in as New Zealand prime minister". the Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.