Jacinda Ardern, the outgoing Prime Minister of New Zealand, made her final public appearance, attending celebrations at the Rātana meeting grounds, accompanied by the incoming Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, who was sworn in after being unanimously voted in by Labour Party lawmakers.
Ardern, who has been a global icon of the left, shocked the nation when she resigned after more than five years, citing a lack of energy.
Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand's Labor Prime Minister, made her final public appearance as leader at the Ratana meeting grounds.
Dressed in a traditional Maori feathered cloak, Ardern greeted supporters with hugs and songs, calling the people the "joy of the job" on her way out.
According to Gulf News, the outgoing leader had been friends with her successor, Chris Hipkins, for nearly 20 years, spending two hours with him on the drive to the event.
The Independent reported that Ms. Ardern offered a single piece of advice to Hipkins: "You do you.
" This pragmatic take is in contrast to The Gulf News' report, which said she "shocked the nation" when she resigned, though Ms. Ardern was consistent in citing exhaustion as the reason for stepping down.
AP News shared a more straightforward perspective, highlighting Chris Hipkins as the incoming leader unanimously voted in by Labor Party lawmakers, and his swearing-in scheduled for Wednesday.
The article also notes that her final act as PM was to attend the event with Hipkins and fellow lawmakers, who recognized the outgoing Prime Minister with warm greetings and songs.
These three reports offer a glimpse into Ardern's final public appearance as a leader, with quotes and characterizations highlighting not only her own departure but also the incoming leader.