I imagine Jacinda Ardern’s winging her way back to New Zealand feeling pretty chuffed with herself. She’s certainly done what she came to achieve.
Her six-day whirlwind trip of Europe has thrust her again into the international spotlight, and she’s coming home with a bit more certainty for New Zealand’s business communities.
While in the UK, New Zealand signed an agreement that will protect our businesses in the UK post-Brexit, no matter how Brexit pans out. How NZ businesses currently trade with UK, under the EU rules, won’t change until a new trade deal can be worked out between the two nations.
Then there was the World Economic Forum in Davos, where she was treated a bit like a star. She shared the stage with royalty (Prince William) and with broadcasting royalty (Sir David Attenborough, who incidentally Ms Ardern says was the most powerful person she believes she met there).
Jacinda Ardern and Theresa May have agreed to a smooth transition. (Source: Other)
Admittedly, last year’s Davos focussed its attention on President Trump, who this year did not attend. Neither did France, Britain, China or India’s main leaders, but there was certainly an element of “Jacindamania” in the Swiss mountain resort town.
There was gushing on stage by the likes of Al Gore, who said he was a “big fan”, and plenty of gushing off stage as well.
The cameras scrambled around her, people queued to attend her session and the international media flocked to her for interviews and comment.
She had long-form interviews with major broadcasters like CNN and the BBC (while in London), and was to stopped for an interview while on her way to another engagement by Swiss TV.
In fact, the BBC interview on the Victoria Derbyshire programme was proving so popular that the producers asked her to stay on air for longer (even as it neared the 30-minute mark). Her schedule didn’t allow for this, but it does show that there was plenty of viewer interest in it. Her picture was on the front page of “the TIMES” newspaper, and she featured in various other publications.
“I am a big fan,” environmentalist and former US presidential candidate Al Gore said of the PM as she discussed global threats. (Source: Other)
Her opinion piece in the Financial Times about the economic and political environment ahead of the WEF was quoted and requoted throughout the forum. In fact, it was a quote from her that summed up their coverage at the end of the economic forum.
But it wasn’t just media. OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria said the organisation would be reviewing NZ’s “wellbeing budget” this year – a sign that people outside of NZ are watching what our country is doing.
The attention she was receiving was hard to miss, but Ms Ardern did not appear impressed when asked if she felt like she was a bit of a “darling of Davos” - responding that she was simply being a voice for New Zealand, and being given opportunities because of New Zealand’s excellent reputation as a world leader on a number of issues like climate change.
Tonight she’ll be meeting two of the world’s most powerful men. (Source: Other)
Then there was the Brussels leg of the trip, where the EU’s top bureaucrats used words like “priceless” to describe NZ’s relationship with the EU – a good sign as we negotiate a free trade deal with the bloc.
She also made it clear that NZ is seeking a fair deal for its exporters despite the EU indicating there may be restrictions to protect its own farmers. But that did little to quell the enthusiasm of European Commission head Jean-Claude Junker, who said “New Zealand was far on the map, but close to our hearts” and that of the 170 countries he has a standing invitation to visit, New Zealand is top of the list.
I think New Zealand can be proud of its reputation overseas.
It’s leader has generated a lot of interest in our nation yet again, and like Prime Ministers gone by, has won friends and endeared the world with the Kiwi style.
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