How are you feeling Jacinda, ahead of your valedictory speech? Normally in such a speech we’d hear of the aspirations and ambitions that brought the person departing to parliament. Funny stories about how things hadn’t perhaps turned out as they’d hoped, a few laughs at their own expense, and maybe a few anecdotes they wouldn’t share if they were continuing in the job.
But what of your aspirations and ambitions? I don’t know what your dreams were when you decided as a young woman to be a politician. But I can’t imagine even the wildest ones could’ve lived up to the experiences you’ve had leading our country. What would she have thought, that idealistic student, if she knew you, she, would become one of the most admired, most loved Prime Ministers in the history of our country?
Knowing what we do she’d probably say - there’s more to be done.
I imagine you’re with Clarke and Neve. Mum has to go into work one more time to say good bye to the country, and then I’m all yours. They will no doubt be watching proudly, as we will be.
I wonder what life will bring now. What will it be like with every person that meets you knowing you? A few will probably frown, some may avoid making eye contact perhaps embarrassed at things they said about you. Most though will look with admiration and love, forever grateful for what you did for them, and our country.
What will you do? Will you be a Playcentre mum? I’m forgetting how old Neve is of course, nearly five. In a few months she will be at school. Maybe you’ll be a parent helper with the crossing guards, fixing the impatient who don’t want to wait with that look you gave Mark Richardson after he suggested employers had a right to know whether a woman plans to have children. Do you remember that look?
What’ve you made of events since you stood down? The cyclone and the flooding, the recent brief visit by Posie Parker? Do you miss being Prime Minister? Or has the time since the decision made it clearer that it was the right time, hard as it was.
Some of us hold the thought that maybe you’ll come back. Goodness you’re only 42. At that age John Key was a backbench MP in his first term. Many people are only beginning to think about a career in politics at your age. Let alone having already been a globally renowned leader from that country that was previously announced as the home of the All Blacks.
But you don’t owe us any more, you’ve given more than anyone could have expected. Still, you never know. If things get really messed up over the next couple of terms, if there are disasters or pandemics not handled well, maybe a safe seat opens at the right time, you could always come back for a couple more terms as Prime Minister. If you wanted to.
Probably the last thing on your mind now. But six years from now, nine years from now? Maybe not.
Maybe you’ll go on to do something completely different? Perhaps instead of Paula Bennett we’ll have you running a TV version of charades. Or perhaps not. All things for another day, or another year. One more speech then back to you family. How they must have loved having you with them these last couple of months and not having to share you with the nation.
In the time I’ve been writing Nick’s Kōrero no other subject has gotten as much interest as the articles about you. It felt a bit like the Women’s Weekly a couple of times, thinking - if I put a picture of Jacinda on the cover it will get X more views.
I wrote of how you were portrayed in the media and that it just didn’t match what we could see. How unreasonable it was that you were blamed for every minor mistake after the incredible things you had achieved. It resonated with people, and is by some margin my most read newsletter to date.
You handled the press so well even though some of them seemed obsessed with trying to make you look bad. Jessica, then Tova is a phrase that will live in our memories. You put up with Barry’s tantrums and with inane questions from Jason, sorry Justin.
You even stopped the tradition of PMs attending the Mike Hosking show weekly, which many of us applauded. Why should you have to sit there while he rants his anti Labour rhetoric at you and ignores everything you say?
I wrote about the way conspiracy nutters targeted Clarke, remember the clowns posting Where is Clarke? I got quite a response to that after someone shared it on their page. A really nasty, irrational, group of people with very poor grammar and photoshop skills. Easy to laugh but it was pretty unpleasant at the time, and of course just a tiny experience compared to what you had to put up with for years.
With a broken heart I wrote about your shock resignation and of the people that treated you so deplorably. The thing is, you should still be doing that job. If we were a nation of kind adults you would still be Prime Minister. But we’re not.
Some of us are poisonous little orcs with ghastly threats and horrible things to say. I feel like we let you down having it come to you needing to go. I know you’d say we need to treat those people with kindness and understanding. But I don’t understand them, or how this was allowed to happen. I’m so sorry we let you down.
There were of course wonderful positive moments along the way. Our hearts swelled with pride when we saw things like this interview:
We enjoyed just how down to earth you were, you were definitely one of us. Having you as our leader made us feel proud on the world stage. We were the example that political leaders could be purely in power to help people and make their lives better.
Do you sometimes wonder why you’ve had such an impact on the people of this land?
Is it because of the time we’ve lived through? For those of us fortunate never to have had war impact our lives Covid was a momentous time. So much uncertainty, our whole focus shifted from our every day routine to one of putting lives and people first. And at the centre of it keeping us safe and communicating the right decisions was you.
When the terrorist action happened in Christchurch and we faced it with love and understanding, not division and hate, it was you leading the way. Saying they are us.
There will be arguments over where you sit in the order of our greatest Prime Ministers. Some will press the merits of Clark and Savage, and their enduring legacies. Big Norm who was so loved by the people before he was gone too soon. Lange’s oratory skills and wit, standing up to the world to declare New Zealand nuclear free.
But many of us know you are the finest PM of our lifetimes, a once in a lifetime leader. We’ll remember yourself and Ashley giving us the update that so many checked in for each day. The love and empathy you showed on that terrible day in Christchurch. Most of all we will remember your message of kindness.
Many of us, myself included, will feel quite overwhelmed with grief when we watch your speech. You’re going to cry, we’re going to cry too. Heck I’ve already cried a lot writing this. But do try to enjoy it too. There will be light moments and reflections, as well as the sadness.
We’re going to miss you. You are us. The best of us.
You looked after our lives, and many did not die that would have but for your actions. I have no doubt you will go on to other incredible achievements in which ever field you choose. But your example of strength and kindness as our Prime Minister will stay with those of us who witnessed it for the rest of our days.
I hope you and your family have great happiness in the years to come. But do come back and see us sometime. We are going to miss you.
Haere Rā Jacinda.
Beautifully written Nick, and a heartfelt tribute to our best Prime Minister. It's wonderful to remember her great successes, her finest moments, her brilliant speeches, her empathy and kindness, her ability to connect with people and make them the centre of her attention even if just for a minute. It's sad for our country that the conspiracy theorists, the misogynists, the far right bigots, and the sensationalist media outlets managed to drive her out. A great loss. I see that the Finnish people have slipped away from Sanna Marin - another loss for women's leadership. Life in politics is very tough for intelligent, confident, forward-looking young women.
Good work Nick. You hit it on the head because personally I feel so bad for her, we failed her dismally because and treated her like shit and it amazes me that she put up with it courageously for so long. I can't imagine any male pm having to cope with that level of open hostility and disrespect day in day out.
I only hope she has a great life post politics and recieves the love and support we failed to provide.