Former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern has ruled out any return to politics, saying she is enjoying a private life outside public office three years after stepping down as New Zealand's leader.
Dame Jacinda, husband Clarke Gayford and daughter Neve recently joined the exodus of Kiwis making the move to Australia, settling on Sydney's northern beaches earlier this year.
Speaking to Australia's Today show, Dame Jacinda laughed off suggestions she could one day enter politics again — even across the Tasman.
"It's a hard no," she said. "I’m even reluctant about the Parent Teacher Association at school."
Dame Jacinda said moving across the ditch had felt "surprisingly familiar".
"I should put out my usual disclaimer, New Zealand continues to be the best country in the world, but this is a wonderful place to be,” she said
She credited welcoming locals, a strong Kiwi community and Sydney’s beaches for helping her family settle into their new home, saying it felt "like home in so many ways".
“People have been so welcoming. So that's probably been our favourite bit, and then the beach.”
The 45-year-old said the past three years of post-political life had flown by as she focused on spending more time with her family.
“I’ve been out for about three years now, and that time has passed really quickly," she said.
“I keep busy writing, still work on projects I care about, and I work on leadership. So it’s been a busy time, but more family time as well, which is amazing.”
Since leaving office, the former Labour leader's memoir, A Different Kind of Power, had been released, alongside a recent children's adaptation titled What If You Could.
An accompanying HBO documentary Prime Minister, which detailed the behind the scenes of her five years in the top role, recently won an Emmy Award.
'Humanity always shines through'
Despite leaving frontline politics, Dame Jacinda told Today she remained committed to causes she cared about and believed leaders should continue to demonstrate compassion and humanity.
“I’m an optimist, always will be,” she said. “The thing that I still carry with me is the humanity that always shines through in the darkest of times.
"One of the challenges I think, is how to convey that to the next generation. They're seeing horrific wars and a period of such uncertainty and change.
“How do we convey to them that in all of that, there’s good reasons to be optimistic?"
She said world leaders had a responsibility to set an example for others, particularly young people, to follow.
“I think we owe our young people for them to see more humanity in leadership."
Despite greatly enjoying private life, Ardern said he had no intention of giving up on her ambitions.
“There are things I want to change in the world,” she said
SHARE ME