WELLINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) – Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern bid a moving farewell to her final day as prime minister on Tuesday, speaking of the kindness and empathy New Zealanders have shown her and preparing to become sisters and mothers. He said that
Days after stunning the world by announcing that she was “no longer in the tank” to lead her country, the 42-year-old attended a gathering of politicians and Maori elders in the small town of Ratana, north of the Maori. Arrived. She was surrounded by supporters asking for her photo.
In her speech at the rally, Prime Minister Ardern said: “I am truly grateful for the greatest privilege of my life.
She will step down on Wednesday and be replaced by new Labor leader Chris Hipkins.
Ardern, along with Hipkins and opposition politicians, visited Ratana annually for its week-long celebration of the birth of Maori prophet Tahupotiki Wailem Ratana.
Dressed in a black dress with her shoulders covered by a traditional Maori cloak called Korowai, she led party members to the community grounds as a brass band played. In the speech that followed and the song and dance that accompanied it, the elders spoke of Ardern with humor and warmth.
“Thank you so much for teaching me to love right away,” one elder told Ardern.
Ardern replied that she had no intention of speaking, but the people there refused to let her out.
“My whole experience with this job New Zealanders and New Zealanders has been one of love, empathy and kindness,” she said.
The left-leaning global icon has made headlines for taking a baby to a UN conference and wearing a hijab after massacres targeting Muslims. I was the target of abuse and online, but I said I was quitting my job with love in my heart.
“I want you to know that I leave Aotearoa New Zealand and its people with more love and affection than I did when I joined.
Before heading to the ground, Ardern faced the media for perhaps the last time as prime minister, smiling broadly at her refusal to answer political questions and saying they were the responsibility of her successor.
“I’m ready to do a lot. I’m ready to be a backbench MP (Member of Parliament). I’m ready to be a sister and a mother,” she said. .
Her daughter Neve is 4 years old and will start school in June.
Hipkins, the country’s former COVID minister, was the only person nominated to take over as Labor leader.First elected to the House of Representatives in 2008.
Reported by Lucy Kramer.Editing by Praveen Menon and Jerry Doyle
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