New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern: wife, mother, comforter - and doer

A picture of the Christchurch terrorist attack is now iconic: showing New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern visiting a Muslim community. Ardern wears a black bandana on it. She looks moved. And: she just listens.

Among the many faces & stories I'll remember from the #ChristChurchMosque tragedy, I will never forget Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. What a remarkable leader. Not only did they assassinate the consequences, they were offered financial assistance to the victims of the family. pic.twitter.com/LT7cCqjPhK

Around 24 hours ago, dozens of people were killed in a double attack in two mosques in the city in the south of the country. The far-right terrorist wanted to prevent an alleged invasion by Muslims. In New Zealand, which is actually considered so tolerant and cosmopolitan. After the attacks, Ardern assured the Muslims in their country, "New Zealand is their home, they are us."

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Then she left for Christchurch. She has not given her travel plans to the press. She has brought her coalition partners as well as members of the opposition. The message: Ardern is not here for the media. She wants to listen. Embrace. To comfort.

Ardern: "This is not New Zealand"

Many smartphones are addressing the head of government as she speaks with her relatives, assuring the Muslim community, "This is not New Zealand." Ardern tries to bring the land together instead of splitting it. Her country is not a safe haven for hatred, racism or extremism, she says, "we were selected because we are none of them".

Ardern wants what she has tried with her political program for two years: her country one. It is appreciated by Muslims in Christchurch and celebrated by people around the world.

Even as Ardern 2017 as a fresh party leader leads the Labor Party despite large Umfragersückstände to victory, write international media of "Jacindamania". A country in an ecstasy. Ardern has replaced the conservative government. She becomes head of government of a coalition with Greens and the right-wing New Zealand First party. At the age of 37, she is the youngest head of government New Zealand has ever had.

Ardern is pursuing ambitious plans for her country, which despite the image of the welfare world has major problems with homelessness, child poverty and domestic violence. It wants to end real estate speculation and protect the environment even better. First, the minimum wage is raised from 15.75 to 16.50 dollars. He should rise to $ 20 by 2021. Ardern's government extends paid parental leave from 22 to 26 weeks. It invests in social housing and puts more money into the health system. Among other things, children under the age of 14 may travel to the doctor free of charge. Under Jacinda Ardern, the country will become more social in a short time.

Ardern: "This is not a question that should be asked to a woman at work"

She is a role model for women around the world. After a few hours in office as a party leader, she asked a journalist in 2017 whether she plans to have children - or whether she has already decided against her career choice. Her answer caused a stir in the country. "This is not a question that should be asked of a woman at work these days," she said. Because whether a woman wants children or not, should not determine their chances in the job.

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But as the head of government shortly thereafter pregnant, the press rushes to it. "I know that many people will only remember me because I'm a woman and have a child in the job, and I understand that," she said in an interview with The Times. She hopes, however, that she will remember something else later.

As the second prime minister in the world, she was given a child in 2018 during her tenure. Six weeks after giving birth, she returned to work. Since then her partner Clarke Gayford has taken care of the daughter.

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So in September 2018, when Ardern has the "First Baby" at the UN General Assembly. While the New Zealand head of government is giving a speech at the summit, her partner Gayford sits with the baby in the audience. Again she is celebrated.

But Ardern can not only be a female role model. Not just wife, mother, comforter. She does not just listen. It also implements. She counters. She agrees. In short: She leads her country.

Just a few hours after the assassination she promised: New Zealand's gun laws will change soon. After a crisis meeting in the Cabinet on Monday is now a harsher regulation on the way. Even the populist New Zealand First, who has so far resisted similar bills, supports this plan. Ardern wants to announce details within the next ten days. "We want to take the time to do it right," she said.

Thus Ardern proves action strength, where other states remain idle after similar terrorist attacks, like the USA. So it was not surprising that US President Donald Trump downplayed the bloodbath in Christchurch, as he had done in the past again and again with right-wing power in his own country.

With a view to white nationalists he spoke of a "small group of people". Ardern replied that she did not share this assessment. "My message is sympathy and love for all Muslims".