New Zealand's most popular politician can't be found on a ballot and won't be campaigning or even setting foot in the country ahead of election day on November 7.
Instead, in keeping with one of her post-politics jobs as a speaker and leadership consultant, she's scheduled to be in Hobart, delivering a keynote address for a medical conference.
Former NZ prime minister and latter-day Sydney resident Dame Jacinda Ardern recently added another role to her resume: University of Sydney professor.
According to a poll published by The Post in 2025, Dame Jacinda remained Kiwis' most-liked politician, well clear of every current leader and the only one with a positive net approval rating.
Dame Jacinda, prime minister from 2017-23, was seen favourably by 45% of Kiwis and negatively by 35%, giving her a +10 approval rating.
Her successor as Labour leader Chris Hipkins was on -8, while Prime Minister Christopjher Luxon was on -30.
Nevertheless, Labour under Hipkins has turned the page on Dame Jacinda, despite her record as one of global progressive politics' leading lights.
This is, according to Hipkins, also her choosing.
"She's not engaged in the New Zealand space," Hipkins told AAP earlier in 2026.
"As a friend, I still talk to her from time to time ... it's more exchanging messages about the kids."
Dame Jacinda has contributed to the Labour campaign, fronting a fundraising email with a video message earlier in October.
That did well, according to a Labour insider, who also confirmed it was all to expect from her in the campaign.
The 46-year-old's absence contrasts with the approaches of Sir John Key and Helen Clark, who often act as proxies for the National and Labour parties they once led.
Dame Jacinda chose not to seek a third term and take on Luxon at the 2023 election, citing the toll of the five years in government, including a terrorist attack, pandemic and volcanic eruption.
A reminder of the Covid era
The conventional political wisdom in NZ is that Dame Jacinda is seen as a reminder of the Covid era: less of the strong health response, and more for the social sacrifices and a botched economic exit.
Among her detractors is an element of anti-authoritarian and conspiratorial opposition responsible for vicious online abuse, and in some cases, personal violent threats.
Andrew Campbell, Dame Jacinda's former press secretary, says the lingering focus on that part of her legacy is deeply unfair.
"The successes on all of the big things that mattered most during that period are almost unquestioned," he told AAP.
"If there were failures at the end or it didn't end well, like most political careers when people are voted out, I think we should continue to treat those politicians with some courtesy and respect.
"One of the things that makes New Zealand such a great place is how civil we are to each other, and I think she deserves that."
Campbell has published a well-received account of the Ardern era, In The Room, featuring frank retelling of key moments and of clashes on policy and style.
This included a prevarication on whether to don a headscarf while meeting Muslim worshippers in the aftermath of the Christchurch Mosques attacks: a move that won her much international praise.
In late 2022, months before her departure and as National began to rival Labour in the polls, Campbell petitioned Dame Jacinda to do less.
"She was still wanting to fix every problem while I just wanted fewer problems on our plate," he writes, regularly pleading with her to "pitch to the centre".
Policy 'reset' under Hipkins
Three years later, the shift has taken place.
After succeeding her as prime minister in February 2023, Hipkins attempted a policy "reset" – dubbed a policy bonfire – of unpopular policies before losing the October election.
"Jacinda is a very close friend of mine. I'm not going to criticise her but I had different priorities ... and one of the first things I was trying to do was reset the government," he told Newstalk ZB on Tuesday.
"We didn't get to do the full reset that I wanted to do, so over the last three years in opposition, we've done that reset."
That includes a relentless focus on cost-of-living issues, and, disappointing Labour's more progressive supporters, accepting coalition policies including tough treatment for welfare recipients, tax breaks for landlords and tight spending caps.
Despite owning the reset, Hipkins bristles at the centrist label.
"I think we're more pragmatic, perhaps, than we were before, and that we're focused on a narrower range of priorities," he said.
Hipkins' Labour also steps back from a deeper embrace of Māoridom in government as part of a previously unrealised Treaty of Waitangi interpretation.
In 2026, the party has no dedicated Māori policy manifesto, does not plan to reinstate Dame Jacinda's Māori Health Authority – axed by the coalition – and has scaled down co-governance plans.
Kiwis head to the polls
After the push to pragmatism, polls have Labour with a genuine shot of forming its own coalition to unseat a National-led government after one term for the first time in NZ history, although at the expense of their own support.
Labour received 37% support in 2017 under Dame Jacinda and 50% in the pandemic-infused 2020 win.
Under Hipkins, Labour won 27% of the vote in 2023, and has a polling average of 29% as election day looms.
That poll share is on par with National in an environment where Kiwis are increasingly looking at minor parties.
It could also be that this election is lacking Dame Jacinda's star power, or what Campbell described as her "transcendent" leadership.
Not that she would be missing it.
"She was actually a reluctant leader in the first place," he said.
Behind Ardern's Hosking decision and why she stayed silent as hate grew
Campbell, who has just released a book about his time with the former prime minister called In The Room, said it’s positive that politicians “are so available” to the media, but access should come with mutual respect.
Wed, Oct 14
1:36
"I don't think she would feel compelled to be involved in the election campaign in the way you see John Key and other politicians loving to step in and almost relive glory days.
"I think she's happy to leave the leadership to those who are in the ring at the moment."
SHARE ME