Jacinda Ardern resigns: Sam Neill defends New Zealand PM against ‘crackpots’

By Liam On Jan 19, 2023

New Zealand actor Sam Neill has passionately defended Jacinda Ardern hours after she resigned as New Zealand’s prime minister.

Her country’s youngest leader, 42, shocked the nation and the world on Thursday when she announced she would step down, admitting she “doesn’t have enough in the tank anymore” to get the job done.

Taking to Instagram after the news broke, the 75-year-old Jurassic Park actor said he “doesn’t blame” Ardern for resigning, adding that New Zealand “deserves a worse leader” for the way its citizens treated her during her tenure. time in office. .

New Zealand actor Sam Neill (pictured in Spain on October 11, 2019) has passionately defended Jacinda Ardern hours after she resigned as New Zealand Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern resigned today. She doesn’t surprise me, nor do I blame her,’ she wrote.

“The treatment you’ve been getting these past few months, the terrible backlog of the left, the right, the wronged, the whiners, the crazy, the know-it-alls, the misogynists, etc., has been shameful and shameful. .

“I think she was a great leader in the most difficult moments. She deserved better. And we will get what we deserve: inferior leadership.

‘I will personally miss her. And thanks to her. And wish you a much happier future.

Her country’s youngest leader, 42, shocked the nation and the world on Thursday when she announced she was stepping down.

The Event Horizon star has long been a supporter of Ardern and has previously said that everyone wants a prime minister like her.

‘So much admiration for my prime minister. Everywhere you go these days, people say they wish they could have a leader like her. PM envy: It’s a thing,’ she said in 2019.

Ardern’s resignation will take effect on Sunday if the Labor Party can choose his replacement in a vote that day, or on February 7 if the process drags on.

Ms Ardern and her partner Clarke Gayford pose with their young daughter Neve Te Aroha outside the Ardern Gayford hospital in Auckland on June 28, 2018

Ms Ardern said she hoped to find the energy and heart over the Christmas holidays to stay at work, “but I haven’t been able to do that.”

“Once I realized I hadn’t, I knew unfortunately there was no alternative but to deliver now,” he told the Labor Party’s traditional January caucus meeting in Napier on Thursday.

‘I’m human. Politicians are human. We give everything we can for as long as we can, and then it’s time. And for me, it’s time.

The 75-year-old Jurassic Park actor said he “doesn’t blame” Ardern for resigning, adding that New Zealand “deserves a worse leader” for the way its citizens treated her during her tenure.

I know what this job requires. And I know I don’t have enough in the tank anymore to do it justice.

‘I’m leaving because such a privileged job comes with great responsibility. The responsibility of knowing when you are the right person to lead, and also when you are not.

“I have given my all to be prime minister, but it has also cost me a lot. You can’t and shouldn’t get the job done unless you have a full tank plus a little in reserve for those unplanned and unexpected challenges that inevitably present themselves.

Ms Ardern imposed some of the toughest Covid restrictions in the world, only allowing visitors in less than a year ago.

“Having reflected over the summer, I know I no longer have that little bit more in the tank to do the job justice. It’s that easy.’

Ms Ardern steps down at 42 after becoming leader just over five years ago on 26 October 2017, and was New Zealand’s youngest Prime Minister, and prior to the youngest sitting MP in 2008, with 28 years.

Ms Ardern faced unrelenting criticism for implementing some of the world’s toughest Covid restrictions, including lockdowns where New Zealanders couldn’t even buy takeaways and a border closure of more than two years.

But he denied that the constant attacks, which continued into the past year as the economy faltered and the cost of living rose, played a role in his decision.

Ms Ardern reveals Covid alert levels, which led to some of the world’s toughest restrictions, when she closed the country’s borders on March 21, 2020

‘I’m not leaving because it’s hard… I know when I have enough left in the tank to do it justice. If I continued, I would be doing New Zealanders a disservice,” she said.

The resigning prime minister was asked if she would take up a post at the UN after leaving office and did not give a direct answer.

‘This has been my entire focus, as you can tell by the fact that you haven’t been aware of this. [my resignation]so that [the UN] It hasn’t been my focus,’ he said.

“My focus has been this decision, to support the Labor team in this next stage.”

Instead, he insisted he had “no plans” other than to kick back with daughter Neve and marry fiance Clarke Gayford after their wedding was called off due to Covid restrictions.

“I’m really looking forward to spending time with my family once again…so for Neve, Mum can’t wait to be there when you start school this year, and for Clarke, let’s finally get married,” she said.

Ms Ardern said she had not yet told her daughter of her plans because “four-year-olds are talkative, I couldn’t take the chance.”

Jacinda Ardern’s resignation speech

“Being Prime Minister has been the greatest honor of my life and I want to thank New Zealanders for the tremendous privilege of leading the country for the past five and a half years.

“Having such a privileged role comes responsibility, including the responsibility of knowing when you are the right person to lead and also when you are not.

“Having reflected over the summer, I know I no longer have that little bit more in the tank to do the job justice. It’s that easy.

I have spoken to the Governor-General this morning to let him know.

‘In addition to our ambitious agenda that has sought to address long-term issues such as the housing crisis, child poverty and climate change, we also had to respond to a major biosecurity raid, a domestic terrorist attack, a volcanic eruption and a one on one hundred year global pandemic and ensuing economic crisis. The decisions that have had to be made have been constant and weighty.

“I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished in the last five years despite the many challenges that come our way. We have turned child poverty statistics on its head and achieved the most significant increases in social support and public housing stock seen in many decades.

‘We have facilitated access to education and training while improving wages and conditions for workers. And we have worked hard to advance issues related to our national identity. I believe that teaching our history in schools and celebrating Matariki as our own indigenous national holiday will make all the difference for years to come.

“And we have done so while responding to some of the greatest threats to the health and economic well-being of New Zealanders, possibly since World War II.

“The Labor team is incredibly well placed to contest the next election. They are the most experienced team in the country and have proven that they have the skills to respond to whatever is thrown at them.

“I’m leaving not because I think we can’t win the election, but because I think Labor can and will win it. We need a new set of shoulders for the challenges of this year and the next three.

“As for my time at work, I hope to leave New Zealanders with the belief that they can be kind yet strong, empathetic yet decisive, optimistic yet focused. And that you can be your own kind of leader, one who knows when it’s time to go.