Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern opens up the Social Good Summit ahead of her historic UNGA appearance

Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, shared impressive stories and motivational words for the crowd at the Social Good Summit before her historic UNGA appearance later in the week. Read more…More about Social Good, Jacinda Ardern, Social …

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Of course, New Zealand’s Prime Minister tried to get a role on ‘Lord of the Rings’

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The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a topic that seemingly gets brought up with New Zealanders a lot, even with the country’s prime minister. 

Jacinda Ardern dropped by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Wednesday night, revealing that she had been knocked back for a role on the movie, as she lived close to where the films were shot.

“I do find it slightly offensive that everyone thinks that every New Zealander starred in either Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit,” Ardern said. “Some of us auditioned but weren’t successful, OK? That’s all I’m going to say.”

Aside from other discussing matters like Trump’s steel tariffs and diplomats laughing at him at the United Nations, Ardern seems pretty down to Earth — especially for a world leader.  Read more…

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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern brings baby to UN General Assembly, makes history

Three months ago, Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, gave birth to her daughter Neve while running a country. 
Now, Ardern and baby Neve are making history at the UN general assembly. 
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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is putting children first

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“If you ask me why I’m in politics, my answer will be simple: children,” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told the audience at Mashable’s 9th annual Social Good Summit on Sept. 23.

On the one-year anniversary of the general election that elevated her to power, Ardern spoke about one of her greatest passions as a politician: helping kids. 

“When I came into office, somewhat surprisingly, I did so with the single-minded determination to improve the lives of children in New Zealand,” she said, speaking alongside the executive director of UNICEF, Henrietta Fore. 

“As one of our 12 priorities as a government we want to make New Zealand the best place in the world to be a child,” Ardern said. “Not to raise children, but to be a child.” Read more…

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New Zealand’s Prime Minister is the latest world leader to beam in as a hologram

Once the domain for dead musicians, or those who couldn’t be bothered touring anymore, the hologram is becoming a handy tool for politicians.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern appeared as a hologram at the annual Techweek innovation festival …

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New Zealand’s so sick of being left off maps they’ve launched an entire ad campaign

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New Zealand is continually omitted from maps of the world. Seriously, there’s an entire Reddit thread highlighting examples of the country being completely wiped from global existence. 

Also known as Aotearoa or “the land of the long white cloud,” New Zealand is missing from maps in Getty stock images, German museums, Ikea wall stickers, tattoos, iPhone cases — even the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum’s globe left it out.

And New Zealand’s just about done with it.

The country’s tourism board has launched a fun new ad campaign dubbed #getNZonthemap, with a commercial starring Kiwi Flight of the Conchords star Rhys Darby and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. They’re keen to get to the bottom of this blatant map omission, and they’re looking squarely at … Australia. Read more…

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People are weirded out by this interview with New Zealand’s Prime Minister

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New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern certainly has been getting worldwide attention.

But an interview aired by the Australian version of 60 Minutes on Sunday has irked some people, who’ve labelled the piece by reporter Charles Wooley as “creepy” due to the focus on her looks and some pretty awkward comments about her pregnancy.

“I’ve met a lot of prime ministers in my time, but none too young and not so many so smart, and never one so attractive,” Wooley said in the feature.

A moment which became the source of significant ire was Wooley’s questioning about Ardern’s recently announced pregnancy, and the exact timing of conception, an analysis that appears to leave the couple uncomfortable.  Read more…

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View More People are weirded out by this interview with New Zealand’s Prime Minister

People are weirded out by this interview with New Zealand’s Prime Minister

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New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern certainly has been getting worldwide attention.

But an interview aired by the Australian version of 60 Minutes on Sunday has irked some people, who’ve labelled the piece by reporter Charles Wooley as “creepy” due to the focus on her looks and some pretty awkward comments about her pregnancy.

“I’ve met a lot of prime ministers in my time, but none too young and not so many so smart, and never one so attractive,” Wooley said in the feature.

A moment which became the source of significant ire was Wooley’s questioning about Ardern’s recently announced pregnancy, and the exact timing of conception, an analysis that appears to leave the couple uncomfortable.  Read more…

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View More People are weirded out by this interview with New Zealand’s Prime Minister

New Zealand’s prime minister looks like the lead of a crime show in her Vogue shoot

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It’s somewhat rare for New Zealand politicians to attract global attention, but Jacinda Ardern’s star continues to rise.

The current New Zealand Prime Minister is featured in the March issue of Vogue, where she’s been labelled the “anti-Trump,” admired for the way she speaks about poverty and homelessness with a “blend of Bernie Sanders’s bluntness and Elizabeth Warren’s fearlessness.”

But of course, being Vogue, there was plenty of attention dedicated to Ardern’s photoshoot. Clarke Gayford, Ardern’s partner, made the photo his wallpaper.

….well thats the desktop sortedpic.twitter.com/9YlqkiwPEZ

— Clarke Gayford (@NZClarke) February 15, 2018 Read more…

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New Zealand prime minister responds to Ed Sheeran’s citizenship request with a mini-quiz

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Ahead of his gigs in New Zealand in March, Ed Sheeran jokingly asked the prime minister if she could grant him citizenship. He got an unexpected reply.

Jacinda Ardern replied in video format to Ed Sheeran’s “informal” request via her official Wellington Chamber Twitter account

@jacindaardern Ardern addresses @edsheeran‘s informal application to become a New Zealand citizen#PineappleLumps #Jandals pic.twitter.com/vR523xMm4M

— Wellington Chamber (@WgtnChamber) November 29, 2017

The first two questions are references to New Zealand culture. “Pineapple Lumps” are a kind of popular chocolate-covered pineapple-flavoured sweet, and “jandals” are the Kiwi term for flip-flops. Read more…

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New Zealand’s prime minister delivered a sick burn to Donald Trump

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New Zealand’s new prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has really hit the ground running. 

Although the PM started her term with the tragic loss of her internet-beloved cat, Paddles, things are comin’ up Milhouse after an apparent little dig at U.S. President Donald Trump.

In an interview with New Zealand news site Newsroom, Ardern, who was elected in October, recapped her recent visit to the East Asia Summit.

Best bit? A small serving for Trump.

“I was waiting to walk out to be introduced at the East Asia Summit gala dinner, where we all paraded and while we were waiting, Trump in jest patted the person next to him on the shoulder, pointed at me and said, ‘This lady caused a lot of upset in her country,’ talking about the election.” Read more…

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Farewell to Paddles, New Zealand’s beloved first cat

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New Zealand’s first cat and internet sensation, Paddles, has sadly died.

The ginger and white cat belonging to the country’s new Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, was struck down by a car on Tuesday, according to the New Zealand Herald

A neighbour found it hoping that it was unconscious, but a vet later pronounced it dead. 

Hi, I’m Paddles and I am the First Cat of New Zealand. I have opposable thumbs, I’m purrty specialpic.twitter.com/MPkxdhWCRu

— Paddles (@FirstCatofNZ) October 21, 2017

“I’m pretty upset,” a neighbour told the newspaper. “She’s very much part of the neighbourhood. Most people around here would know who she is.” Read more…

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