Organisers of Auckland's first big spring event, The Secret Garden, have their fingers crossed that PM Jacinda Ardern will agree to be their special guest DJ on Election Day. All rights reserved. #Decision20 pic.twitter.com/ca3oHnPbIg. The Labour leader and incumbent prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, met the National party leader, Judith Collins, in the TV3 studios in Auckland, in a one-and-half-hour debate moderated by Patrick Gower. The leaders agreed it was not the right time for New Zealand to change its name to the Māori Aotearoa, but agreed they would like to learn more of the language themselves, and for it to be taught more widely in schools. When Ardern interrupted Collins, the National leader piped up: “Manners!”, following her retort with a cheeky grin. Ardern’s astute handling of the coronavirus crisis is credited with her overwhelming popularity as preferred PM, as is voters’ desire for continued stability in their leadership and government in the midst of a pandemic. Jacinda Ardern: How NZ Prime Minister used to be a music DJ The Prime Minister of New Zealand is doing an incredible job leading her country — but she nearly had a very different career. Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern is a New Zealand politician who has served as the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and leader of the Labour Party since 2017. According to recent polls, Ardern’s Labour party is forecast to win the 17 October election by a comfortable margin, though support for National is inching up.
The energy levels of both leaders was significantly higher than in their lethargic first meeting, with both drawn into making admissions and promises they never have before. Collins said she would vote no to legalising cannabis, and had never used the drug, while Ardern – for the first time – said she had: “A long time ago.”, Available for everyone, funded by readers, Quickfire questions led to dope-smoking and Trump-admiring revelations from Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins, PM widely expected to beat challenger in October but both criticised after ‘muddled’ exchanges, Spooky opening gives way to a leaders’ showdown with little drama and lacking in spark, Tough-talking conservative politician will take on Jacinda Ardern at polls in September. Asked how they would respond to gang membership growing 30% in the last three years, Collins said she would create a specialised “gang squad” while Ardern said the root causes of youth displacement and alienation needed to be healed first. @patrickgowernz wants to know what the leaders plan to do about it. She has been the member of Parliament (MP) for Mount Albert since March 2017, having first been elected to the House of Representatives as a list MP in 2008.
Collins has criticised Ardern for being a “celebrity prime minister” and said she excels at communication but fails at delivering on her promises. Though both leaders had overlapping recovery plans post-Covid they differed significantly in many areas, including how to deal with the housing crisis, how to stimulate the economy and how to tackle climate change. At one point Ardern scolded Collins after another interruption: “If I may model some good behaviour for you?”, and interjected: “Deep breath Judith” as the National leader talked up economic growth. Both Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins agree the increase of gang members in New Zealand since 2017 is "shocking". The highlight of the night for many was Collins admitting she would “absolutely” like to feature on the cover of Vogue magazine, as Ardern did in 2018. @patrickgowernz wants to know what the leaders plan to … The prime minister of New Zealand has admitted she has used cannabis in the most robust and animated leaders’ debate of the election campaign so far. Both Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins agree the increase of gang members in New Zealand since 2017 is "shocking". © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Ardern also failed to give sufficient, cogent detail on a number of points, with Gower repeatedly interrupting to ask: “But I still don’t understand.”.
On one more than one occasion she dissolved into raucous laughter while listening to Ardern speak, earning swift glances of disgruntlement from the PM. Both leaders committed to continuing with the country’s coronavirus elimination policy, and Ardern said she hoped a number of vaccines would be available by next year.
The latest poll suggests Labour would need to form a coalition government, probably with the Green party. The debate played much better with Kiwis than the leaders’ first outing, and many struggled to declare a winner, saying both had brought energy and spirit to their showing. Ardern agreed a travel bubble would be good for the economy, but was not easy to do safely.
She also pledged to scrap the gun register and make sure every school in the country has a gender-neutral toilet. “Covid is much trickier than the leader of the opposition is giving any credit to,” she said.
Labour prime minister faces National leader Judith Collins in televised election clash, Wed 30 Sep 2020 06.14 EDT Ardern promised to declare a climate emergency if she was elected for another term, eradicate child poverty and move towards subsidising sanitary products for girls and women. Asked for one transformational idea that would help the recovery, both leaders disappointed, with Ardern saying the country needed to capitalise on “brand New Zealand” overseas, while Collins said she wanted to transform the country into the south Pacific’s “technology hub”. Collins said she was not patronising, she was just being herself and had enjoyed the debate, declaring it “robust and a win for politics”. Humour also featured prominently, as did testy asides. Collins promised that if family members of abused children refused to participate in police inquiries they would face three years in jail. The low point of the night came when Collins repeatedly praised Donald Trump, saying he had done well to prevent any wars. The National party leader was accused of being “patronising” to Ardern by many commentators, at one point calling the PM “dear”. Jacinda Ardern used to be a DJ, and we're starting to think there's nothing she can't do. The PM chose not to disclose how she would vote in the forthcoming cannabis referendum, which drew the ire of some, though her supporters said all voters deserved the right to privacy. Score draw for New Zealand leaders in pub quiz-style debate, New Zealand election debate: Collins edges it against 'passionless' Ardern, First TV debate between Ardern and Collins avoids being a horror show, Judith Collins named New Zealand National party's new leader, Auckland shooting: man charged with murdering police officer, Thousands in New Zealand protest against George Floyd killing, 'I am not Māori': New Zealand MP corrects party deputy leader amid diversity criticism, New Zealand earthquake: PM Jacinda Ardern live on TV in Wellington as North Island hit. Jacinda Ardern is the leader of the moment right now, as the world watches on in awe at her exceptional response to the horrific Christchurch terror attacks that killed 50 people and injured dozens more. Last modified on Wed 30 Sep 2020 23.36 EDT.
On managing Covid-19, Collins said she would make it easier to get into New Zealand, and try to establish a trans-Tasman “travel bubble” with Australia by Christmas.