Written by Kanav Kapoor, a grade 6 student.

Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern , born 26 July 1980 is a New Zealand politician who has served as the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand and leader of the Labour Party since 2017.

Ardern describes herself as a social democrat and a progressive. At the time of her appointment as prime minister, she became the world’s youngest female head of government, achieving office at age 37. Ardern later became the world’s second elected head of government to give birth while in office (after Benazir Bhutto) when her daughter was born on 21 June.

The Ardern Government has focused particularly on the New Zealand housing crisis, child poverty, and social inequality. In March 2019, she led the country through the aftermath of the Christchurch mosque shootings, rapidly introducing strict gun laws in response.

She has been praised for her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand

This week, Jacinda Ardern became the most popular prime minister in New Zealand’s history. In the first poll conducted after the country’s strict four-week lockdown, Ardern’s approval rating was up to nearly 60 percent, and her party, Labour, was at 56.5 percent. That’s the serious political capital and PM Ardern has used it to float an idea for labour reform that others could learn from — a four-day week.

Given the number of people working from home and the slowdown in consumption caused by COVID-19, a four-day week could potentially reduce the burden on families as well as help the economy. Flexible work hours would mean that people have more time to spend on leisure, fewer overheads for employers, and generally less stress during trying times. Unlike many other countries facing distress and lockdowns, New Zealand seems to be open to the idea that producers are also consumers, and their health and well-being — mental and physical — will be the ultimate driver of the economy. “We must go hard and we must go early,” Ardern said some days prior when announcing what she described as the world’s toughest border restrictions.

The 39-year-old prime minister took early and decisive action based on the advice of health officials. She has communicated with the public in a clear and consistent manner, sometimes delivering her messages through engaging Facebook Live sessions she has been hosting from her home. In one livestream she appeared in a faded sweatshirt to calm the country as strict lockdown measures were coming into place. Throughout, her messaging has been clear, consistent and delivered in a confident, calm and reassuring manner, even though she has not sought to sugar coat the dangers the pandemic poses to lives and livelihoods.

Written by Kanav Kapoor, a grade 6 student.