Jacinda Ardern: Leading with Empathy

This unauthorised account of the early years, family background, Mormon, democratic socialist and feminist ideological influences, and political rise of former Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, was written by a British Indian peace activist and human rights campaigner, and an Australian biographer of Indian celebrities.

It is drawn primarily from New Zealand published, secondary media sources, online blogs, and interviews with mentors, colleagues, and political commentators, to highlight Jacinda’s new style of feminine politics of “empathy”, “kindness and compassion”, as well as her allegedly more male-like decisiveness.

Vani did telephone interview Jacinda in 2019, aiming to include her in a list of 15 others for a book about women and leadership. Covid-19 scotched this project so the authors (under false pretences, perhaps) produced, instead, this “awkward”, fawning, expressly adulatory, exploration of “Jacindamania”.

The authors clearly wrote from afar. There are some odd little references: Jacinda was not victoriously “swept into office” in 2017; Bill English won with 10 percent more party votes but Winston Peters appointed Jacinda as Prime Minister. TVNZ’s then political editor, Corin Dann, is incorrectly identified as a “Radio New Zealand political reporter.” The National Party is often jarringly labelled the “Nationals” (perhaps confused with Australia’s “Nationals”) Anachronisms like, “The Māori’s …” instead of “Māori,” and “pakeha” not Pākehā appear.

These quibbles aside, Chapter 16 “Ambition or Ambivalence” helpfully discusses the high glass window which discourages women from entering political leadership – a “confidence gender gap” and “The Imposter Phenomenon in High Achieving Women” are two factors suggested.

Part One covers Jacinda’s personal and family background, however there are no early childhood photographs. An entire gushing chapter highlights her relationship with Clarke Gayford her “Catch of a Lifetime,” and baby Neve.

Part Two details Jacinda’s rise to Prime Ministership as “Mother of the Nation.” Coverage of the Christchurch mosque attacks and Whakaari/White Island eruption, is so detailed the horrors come flooding back. New Zealand’s Covid-19 epidemic response is covered last with resolute positivity, but almost as an add-on.

By concluding in the months following Jacinda’s 2020 electoral triumph, there is no critique of the 2022 controversies over her government’s missteps on returnees’ compulsory isolating, vaccine mandates and other public health restrictions. Similarly, mentioned in passing, “Kiwibuild” is not critiqued.

Thirty pages of Acknowledgements, Notes, Bibliography and an Index bring a little professional gravitas. Overall, this reviewer finds this work is more hagiography than a fully satisfying biography.