Taking the lead: how Jacinda Ardern wowed the world by David Hill
Illus. by Phoebe Morris. Penguin Books, 2020. ISBN: 9780143774518.
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. On 15 March 2019, a gunman killed and
wounded Muslims while they were at prayer in the mosque at
Christchurch. Without hesitation, New Zealand's prime minister,
Jacinda Ardern flew to Christchurch, donned a head scarf and hugged
those affected by this act of terrorism. Her speech punctuated with
the phrase, 'we are one' was heard around the world, a response from
her heart.
And reading this absorbing book takes the reader to her background
and experiences which have made her what she is, a stalwart amongst
world's leaders, a shining example of humility and understanding.
From her early years growing up on an orchard at Waikato, concerned
that others in her class did not have access to the things she took
for granted, to helping her aunt's campaign in New Plymouth, to
going overseas and working in Tony Blair's office, then becoming the
president of the Union of Socialist Youth where she travelled
widely; each step gave her the confidence and the experiences needed
to help her become the youngest elected MP in New Zealand's
parliament in 2008. Dismissed by commentators in the same way that
Australia's Julia Gillard was, Jacinda promoted improving the lives
of women, teaching te reo Maori in schools, and tackling climate
change and was elected her party's leader in 2017.
Her story is one of dedication and sticking to her ideals. Her
saying, 'let's do this' is often heard when she has work to do, and
nothing seems to phase her. Her reaction to the massacre in 2019,
leading New Zealand to restricting access to guns, has made her
someone to be admired and emulated. And her stamina and work ethic
is stressed by the use of the bee on many pages.
This brief book is most informative, each sentence full of facts and
interest, the illustrations placing Jacinda within her background,
the beehive parliament house in Wellington, the orchard in Waikato,
to the world stage meeting the queen in a korowai, a Maori robe. All
is brought together with a most useful timeline at the end of the
book. A wonderful biography for younger readers of one of this
century's outstanding leaders. Themes: Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand,
Leadership, Terrorism, Biography.
Fran Knight