Jacinda Ardern became the youngest Prime Minister in 150 years of New Zealand’s history in October 2017 as leader of the Labour Party. She was born on July 26, 1980, in Hamilton, New Zealand and grew up in a small town known for its Maori gangs and poverty. Her father was a law enforcement officer who advanced to High Commissioner of the Island of Niue. In 2001, Jacinda graduated with a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Politics and Public Relations from the University of Waikato.

In 1999, she joined the Labour Party and served on the staff of Helen Clark, the second woman to become New Zealand’s Prime Minister. Ardern worked in England for the cabinet office of British Prime Minister Tony Blair as the Associate Director for Better Regulation Executive from 2005 to 2007. In 2008, she was selected as the Labour Party’s Member of Parliament (MP) position for the Waikato district, and at the age of 28 was the youngest member of New Zealand’s Parliamentary House of Representatives.

She became the MP for the Auckland electorate Mt Albert in early 2017, and the Leader of the Labour Party in August 2017. On October 26, 2017, Ardern was sworn in as Prime Minister. She also holds the roles of Minister for National Security and Intelligence, and Minister for Child Poverty.

She is also the Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services and Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.

by Anthony E. Thomas