Ardern takes conservation, extremism post-PM gigs
Ben McKay |
Jacinda Ardern has taken two jobs to start her post-politics career, including a board seat on Prince William’s pet conservation project.
The former New Zealand prime minister has been appointed by Prince William as a trustee of the Earthshot Prize, which aims to find solutions to the world’s biggest environmental challenges.
She will also continue her own work on her flagship foreign policy, accepting an appointment as special envoy for the Christchurch Call.
Ms Ardern said she felt “very lucky” to work with William, a personal friend, to whom she spoke about Earthshot before he formed the multi-million dollar prize.
“I think we can demonstrate to the next generation that there is cause to feel hopeful for our future if we accelerate and support those innovators,” she told Newshub.
“That’s what Earthshot does. So I’m really proud to be a part of the board.”
The Christchurch Call is an international organisation which brings together countries and tech companies to eliminate online extremism.
It was founded by New Zealand and France, with Ms Ardern working with French President Emmanuel Macron, after the 2019 Christchurch Mosques massacre.
Announcing her appointment on Tuesday, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said, “We owe it to those who lost their lives on 15 March 2019 to continue our work to ensure there is no place for terrorist and violent extremist content online”.
The Call’s focus comes as the Christchurch Mosques terrorist – Australian man Brenton Tarrant – was radicalised online and live-streamed his murders on Facebook.
The newly created position will be unpaid though Ms Ardern will be reimbursed for some costs.
“I believed it had more to do and I knew that I would have the time to do it and I certainly have the passion for it,” Ms Ardern said of the envoy role.
“I also still feel a duty at a personal level to the community who are affected by this tragedy.”
Ms Ardern unveiled the two roles on Tuesday as she gave her final interviews before ending her 15-year political career.
She told TVNZ she had no regrets but there are things she would have done differently.
“If you can’t reflect back in that way then you’re never learning,” she said.
“Five years probably felt more like nine just because of what we all went through as a nation.
“I will miss the people … I’ll miss my colleagues, they’re wonderful people. But I won’t miss the weight, because it is heavy.”
She told Newshub a lowlight of her tenure was the occupation of parliament by anti-vaccine and anti-mandate protesters last year, which ended in arson.
“That was awful. I don’t think I hid that. I found that incredibly hard. I think everyone in this parliament did, because everyone had worked so hard on unity through COVID,” she said.
Ms Ardern will deliver her valedictory address on Wednesday and leave parliament next week, taking up the two new roles.
Mr Hipkins became prime minister at the end of January when Ms Ardern stood down citing burnout.
He said with Ms Ardern as special envoy, he will be freed up to focus on domestic priorities.
“This allows me to remain focused on the cyclone recovery and addressing the cost of living pressures affecting New Zealanders,” he said.
Last month, Mr Hipkins teased that Ms Ardern might accept a role with the Christchurch Call, as the fourth anniversary of the attacks neared.
The special envoy position will be reviewed at year’s end, after the October 14 election.
The opposition has indicated they would consider appointing or retaining Ms Ardern in a role serving NZ abroad, given Ms Ardern’s unprecedented global standing for a Kiwi prime minister.
“If there’s work that would allow New Zealand’s interests to be furthered on the world stage … then we would look favourably on it,” Nicola Willis, deputy leader of the National party, said on Monday.
AAP
