New Zealand Interview with Prime Minister Ardern | NHK News

New Zealand Interview with Prime Minister Ardern (Japanese translation) September 26, 16:56

Full text of an interview with Prime Minister Ardern of New Zealand.

What about pregnancy conflicts and anxiety?

Q1 I became pregnant when I was busy negotiating with the coalition government. Was there any conflict or anxiety other than joy?

A1 That was certainly true at the time. I remember I was thinking so much about the future because I was so focused on organizing the government. So it was not the normal experience for new parents. (Allied) It was an important time to form a government. But of course there was joy.

Maternity leave decision

Q2 As the prime minister, I took maternity leave for the first time in history. Was it difficult to decide to take maternity leave with a heavy New Zealand prime minister?

A2 It was a very realistic decision for me. I felt that I needed time to give birth and recover my daughter. I also felt it was very important to send a message that the child should be respected in the first few weeks and that time should be given to the parent. I support the idea that parents should spend 26 weeks with their children (postpartum) *. But as prime minister, I can't do that. So we decided to have 6 weeks, but the New Zealanders supported us. The time passed and I returned to work. I believe that the world has accepted these choices.

* In New Zealand, the paid maternity leave period will be extended from 22 weeks to 26 weeks in July 2020.

It was supported by the public

Q3 Some people might be critical of the decision, but how did you deal with it?

A3 To be honest, I was very nervous about telling the public about my pregnancy. There was no precedent in New Zealand, and there was nothing that could be used as a standard for how people would react. So, I was nervous, but when I announced it, there was almost no reaction. Of course, there were a few people who said negative things. However, there were really only a few people. Many people realized that if there were women of the same age group as me in the workplace, it would be natural for humans to take maternity leave, and they should be supported. It should also help the father become a carer. So I feel that it was very popular with the people.

Only because of the support of parents and partners

Q4 Japanese women want to work and raise their children, but there are women who feel that they cannot do that. What do you think about the conflicts that women face?

A4 I think this is a global issue. Regardless of where you live in the world, women feel that they have to do everything themselves. Whether you are working or a mother, you must strive to be the primary caregiver and feel that you have to do everything. I don't pretend that I can do everything myself. You cannot serve as prime minister and mother alone. It is possible because of the support of parents and partners. Wherever you are in the world, I want to tell you that there are people who support you around, so you can do it. You should encourage and support the creation of a similar network around women. It also means that men are more active in raising children. This is a big change. I'm happy that this trend has been made in New Zealand for the past few years. I think everyone can play a role that suits them.

An environment where you can make the best choice

Q5 What do you think about those who say “If you have babies and children, you should not do the prime minister”?

A5 Everyone should know what was there for them. I want to create an environment where I can make such a choice if there is a man or a woman who wants to stay at home for a long time. If you want to raise your child while working, that is also your choice. For me, it is important to feel that you can make your choice without being criticized by others. Because, after all, only the parents know what is best for them. I consider my duty as the prime minister to provide an environment where the best choice is possible, that is, an environment where you can take the necessary holidays and earn enough money to choose between a part-time job and a special job. I think that what you can choose is important. I know that not everyone feels in an environment where they can choose, but I want it to be.

6 months from the shooting

Q6 Half a year has passed since the shooting of Christchurch. Many people were encouraged by your message as they sent out a powerful message calling for unity across races and religions. But hate, discrimination, intolerance and unkindness still exist in society. How is New Zealand trying to overcome these challenges?

A6 New Zealand doesn't want people to remember where the terrible terrorist incident on March 15 happened. Still, the shooting case will definitely be in the hearts of people around the world. But I want you to remember how we responded to this incident. That incident was an attack on Islamic society in our country, but also an attack on New Zealand. Because Islamic society is part of New Zealand and our society. New Zealand is a very diverse country with 200 ethnic groups and 160 languages, but if you strip everything, you are all the same people. Everyone felt, shared and united in the pain experienced by Islamic society. I hope we finally have the message that we are all human beings. The issue of racial discrimination and community targeting must be addressed. We need to go back to being all human. From that perspective, I hope that New Zealand will be remembered by people. That is a very powerful message.

To become a diverse society

Q7 There are still more foreign workers in Japan than ever before. But there is still hatred and discrimination against minorities. Japan struggles with diversity and accepting foreigners. What do you think is necessary for Japan to become a more diverse and multicultural society?

A7 I think that there are things in people's hearts that are central values ​​as New Zealanders. I believe that we are essentially compassionate and sympathetic people. We have a long history of creating a diverse society. Still we are not perfect. We are never perfect. There is also racism, discrimination, and bullying. However, I found that the more I have the opportunity to unite as a diverse country, the more I can praise it, the more I can admire it, and there is something in common with everyone. Diversity is very beautiful. For New Zealand, it makes me feel strongly who we are. It makes it possible to celebrate the difference without becoming intolerant. So we are learning too. We are not perfect. However, the more the community can unite, the more opportunities for children to learn in a variety of environments and the creation of a cohesive society.

Why diversity is important

Q8 Why do you think diversity is important? Is it a politician's belief?

A8 That's right, I think it is. However, I am also a child of a Scottish immigrant III and I realize that my grandfather is from Denmark. New Zealand has a history of diversity. Some issues are not perfect and must be repaired and dealt with. Of course, that means we can't always stand on the stage and speak with perfection. But we have experience and can talk about it very openly. You can talk openly about what went wrong in the past and what you could learn from it.

The trend of emphasizing profits in your country

Q9 Looking at the international community, nationalism is growing worldwide, and many countries place importance on their own interests and divide society. What do you think about this? What kind of society do you want to build in New Zealand?

A9 That's right. Looking across the world, bipolarization is spreading. If you remove all the extras, you may be experiencing anxiety. Various things around us are changing rapidly. There is also a technical confusion. The globalization of the world is also progressing. I think people are anxious about it. There will be changes not only in your own country, but also in your own workplace. You may be worried whether there is a guarantee of income, whether you can have your own home, whether your children can have their own home, or whether there is a stable and safe environment. I think politicians are responsible for such public concerns. Politicians can raise their fears for their own benefit. Or you can claim that you can improve the situation, respond to people's needs, improve welfare, confront inequality and tackle issues such as climate change, and send a message of hope. All of this can be accomplished without any responsibility to others. As a politician, you must play a role in finding solutions to people's concerns and concerns.

A particularly difficult time for the international community

Q10 Many countries are heading towards more fragmentation. How do you feel about this? What can we do?

A10 I am also concerned about division. There are various examples of such cases. In such an environment, politicians have the responsibility to face up to the challenges they face, pursuing commonalities rather than division, returning to the simple concept of kindness, compassion and common humanity. I want to go back to the point. Let's be clear. This is a particularly difficult time for the international community. But the only way we can solve the challenges we face, such as climate change, is to work together. I think that it is very important to tackle these challenges, such as international organizations and bilateral cooperation between New Zealand and Japan.

Work in a country you are proud of

Q11 There is an internet signing activity to give the Prime Minister a Nobel Peace Prize. How did you feel when you heard this?

A11 New Zealand's response to the March 15 incident, and my actions at that time, reflect the entire New Zealander, not just me. It was just a reflection of what was felt by all the New Zealanders around me at the time. Looking at the images at that time, there are people who line up outside the local mosque and sing and hug each other. I love New Zealand and I am very proud to be the representative. I do not deserve praise. Because I am benefiting from working every day in a country I am proud of.

Gun regulation reform initiatives

Q12 After Christchurch shooting, people were encouraged by the message and what the Prime Minister reported. How could you call for gun control reform so quickly and call for further efforts to eliminate extremist content from social media?

A12 Certainly we responded quickly. I remember when I was given an explanation about how a gunman got a gun in New Zealand and how it was available. It was clear that it should not continue any further. So that day I said that New Zealand gun control laws will change. I said without knowing the pros and cons of New Zealand politicians. However, I felt that the parliament would be united, and in fact the parliament was united. Aside from one, all members agreed to ban military-style semi-automatic rifles and assault rifles from New Zealand. So far, we have collected about 20,000 guns to destroy. I am proud that New Zealand has achieved this. But it was done because I knew it was right.

Against online extremism

Q13 Do you have any other thoughts to prevent recurrence of the incident?

A13 One of the horrible things about the March 15 incident was that the incident was broadcast (the criminal relayed it on the Internet). It was the first time someone took such action. I felt that I was responsible for keeping that kind of thing from happening again. We call it “Christchurch Call to Action”. An action plan that calls on countries and social media companies around the world to work to get rid of online violent extremism and terrorist content. I don't want anyone to see the video that kills as many as 51 people spread on the Internet, nor that violent extremism, terrorism, or such thoughts spread on the Internet. We have moved forward. For example, Facebook has already changed some of its policies and activities as a result. We expect further cooperation in the coming months.

Rugby World Cup

Q14 Rugby World Cup begins.

A14 Yes. It's a lot of fun for New Zealand. As you know, we are a country that loves rugby. I am grateful for the “hospitality” of Japan to All Blacks (of New Zealand national team) and fans visiting from New Zealand. Thank you very much. Thank you for accepting us.