Thread by @BMHayward

Last time I was phoned by media while on holiday it was when Jacinda Ardern was put forward as leader - I recall media saying it will be disaster won’t it? I couldn’t have disagreed more- as PM Ardern gave it everything, & made it look easy-it’s not #nzpol newshub.co.nz/home/politics/…

Ardern often made leading look effortless but the effort is enormous- expect misogyny now in comments about her ‘not hacking the pace’ etc-Frankly she set the pace & we will need more leaders like her, who can cope with disasters in a changing climate/pandemic/war/economic stress

Just for the record, a bit like the time she was put forward as leader and media was sure this was a bad change for her party so close to an election- I again find myself out of step with a lot of commentary

As Ardern has learned-a change of leadership can be a circuit breaker

It’s a mistake for #nzpol commentators to assume the loss of the PM (a star performer) means the Opposition will be sure to win-strategically what Ardern learned from her own sudden change of leadership that put her into power in the first place, is how to change the narrative

The Opposition has had an easy ride til now-globally incumbent leaders are lightening rods for a backlash by electorates tired of pandemics/hardship- so changing leader at this stage to a new but experienced Minister (eg Hipkins) or rising star (eg Allen/Wood) changes the game

If we think back to the declining fortunes of Labour in polls under Little & what his stepping aside did for the party- a clean break like this enables this established government to reset the narrative- suddenly its game on for the #nzpol election

Ardern’s opponents always under estimated her strategy - remember all that stardust rubbish- it would be a real mistake to underestimate her strategic thinking behind her move now- plus, a personal comment: good for her- leaving under her own terms but with so much still to offer

Also the long applause in a packed Civic Theatre tonight at a Marlon Williams concert for his spontaneous dedication of a song to ‘Jacinda Ardern’ is a reminder of what a remarkable cross-over politician Ardern is- hard to imagine any other politician right now achieving this

Just adding a few more thoughts for the record-to push back on sexism in some of the framing of Arden’s ‘legacy’, (we’ve come full circle back to the days when her leadership was just stardust apparently-tho some of the same ‘lightweight but popular’ comments were said about Key)

A key lessons Ardern-Robertson learned from Clark-Cullen years was the strategic importance of embedding policy frameworks. Beyond the fog of covid responses (which clouds the view right now) setting up metrics to measure child poverty was ‘impossible’ previously until it wasn’t

Setting up the climate commission & legislative frameworks with the Greens, & supporting Shaw’s efforts to embed support for a climate framework across all parties has mattered-and while we still need climate embedded in cabinet & finance portfolios (with wellbeing) it’s a frame

Shifting the focus of foreign policy to an Indigenous values informed approach - placing emphasis on the Pacific & managing very tense geopolitical relationships with a China vs USA has also mattered - follow @Robert_Patman for closer analysis

the Christchurch Call but this was a notable, effort vs a cynical tired international environment to regulate social media. I remember presenting the idea to a UN sustainable goals session on youth media literacy & was shocked at how resistant govts are to really doing anything

It’s also very easy to overlook the impact of the changes in the history curriculum or to minimise the growing emphasis overall on Māori leadership that has emerged in this term of parliament which in part is facilitated by leadership & an emphasis on values of service & humility

On a nation where opinion polls show that NZers consistently value ‘strong leaders’ and in an age of domineering older men in global leadership- don’t underestimate how Arden’s leadership changed public imagination about what leaders look like & how to lead in inclusive ways

I recall once commenting with @FranOSullivan affordable housing matters-it’s not been cracked by any party but for a time as @secondzeit said we became a ‘cool little country’ & those changes to political imagination have surprising legacy impacts

Also not forgetting to add Fair pay agreements - correcting a long and devastating impact of 1990’s inequity and abortion law reform

A number of people have asked why I have not dwelt in the trolling and hate directed at her or the three times increased police the risk rating & the sexist taunts from the opposition about part time PM etc etc- it’s because I refuse to give traction or time to the viciousness

But it does highlight if we want new kinds of leadership in our #nzpol democracy to be sustainable we need to rethink structural barriers - in the past we changed the hours and sitting times for parliament to suit the agricultural calendar! So we can change how parliament works!

We can also look closely at why we tolerate hate speech, dirty politics & enable misogyny - there is also no reason why a PM even has to be just one person (ask the Greens/Māori party) so before we decide the cards will remain stacked against women-we can change the rules #nzpol

But structural change won’t happen magically- it takes constant struggle, creative resistance, vision & fierce hope, ask Māori. And it won’t happen without celebrating all the bright stars who dare to lead differently - so personally finishing with my own thanks, @jacindaardern