Former prime minister Dame Jacinda Ardern is one of nine recipients of the University of Oxford's annual honorary degrees.
The university awarded the honorary degrees as part of its encaenia ceremony, which gives them to distinguished men and women, and commemorates its benefactors.
Honorary degrees were given to those whose accomplishments across fields including art, culture, politics, science and sport had "an extraordinary impact on the world".
Dame Jacinda was the only New Zealander — and only politician — to make the list this year.
She praised working with Oxford through the Blavatnik School of Government and the World Leaders Circle, saying it had "supported my work on empathetic leadership".
"It's really humbling to be part of today’s ceremony - not just because of the amazing people I’ve stood alongside today, but because just a few months ago I sat in the same space and watched as Oxford awarded a posthumous MPhil to Mākereti Papakura which was so incredibly special," she said.
Dame Jacinda received the prestigious honour during a sweltering ceremony at the Sheldonian Theatre on Wednesday.
Due to the extreme heatwave sweeping across Europe and the UK, dress codes for the ceremony were slightly relaxed to allow for comfort.
"In light of the warning, the usual expectations regarding formal attire have been relaxed across all Encaenia events," the university said.
"Guests are welcome to dress in a way that is comfortable and appropriate for the conditions. Jackets, gowns and other additional layers are not expected, except for those participating in formal processions, where wearing them remains optional."
The accolade is the latest for Dame Jacinda since she resigned as prime minister in early 2023, the same year she was appointed a dame.
The 45-year-old now lives in Australia with her family, while her Auckland house remained for sale.
The morning headlines including an unwelcome passenger hitches a ride on a prison van… a plan to rescue crew stranded in the strait of Hormuz.. and a baby goat named after the football goat Lionel Messi. (Source: 1News)
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