Has ‘Jacinda-mania’ peaked? NZ PM’s popularity at home tested
- September election could be a tight one for New Zealand’s prime minister, according to polls
- There are perceptions her party has failed to deliver on key domestic issues such as affordable housing
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won global acclaim for her response to the Christchurch mosque shootings – but 12 months on, her political future hangs in the balance and there are signs “Jacinda-mania” has peaked.
The centre-left leader had been in office barely 18 months on March 15 last year when a self-avowed white supremacist opened fire at two mosques during Friday prayers, killing 51 and injuring another 40.
Faced with a crisis unprecedented in New Zealand’s modern history, Ardern rose to the challenge with a mixture of compassion and decisive action.
She offered support for New Zealand’s Muslims, rejected the shooter’s ideology, immediately moved to tighten gun laws and launched a global initiative to curb online extremism.
Ardern’s personal popularity rating peaked at 51 per cent shortly after the shootings and her Labour Party briefly reached similar levels, setting her on a path to re-election in polls set for later this year.