Daily Archives: December 12, 2022

Sanna Marin, prime minister of Finland, left, and New Zealand Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern pose at Government House in Auckland, New Zealand. Marin is in New Zealand for a three-day visit, which sparked international interest after a reporters asked questions about the leaders' ages and gender. Dave Rowland/Getty Images hide caption

Sanna Marin, prime minister of Finland, left, and New Zealand Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern pose at Government House in Auckland, New Zealand. Marin is in New Zealand for a three-day visit, which sparked international interest after a reporters asked questions about the leaders' ages and gender.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern fired back at a reporter's suggestion she met with Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin "just because" of their similarities, such as age and gender.

The comments came at a joint press conference on Wednesday, which was held to highlight Marin's diplomatic visit to Auckland. The two leaders are expected to discuss trade relations and Ukraine support.

"A lot of people will be wondering, are you two meeting just because you're similar in age and, you know, got a lot of common stuff there," a reporter from a New Zealand outlet asked Ardern.

"Or can Kiwi's actually expect to see more deals down the line between the two countries"

"My first question is I wonder whether or not anyone ever asked [former U.S. President] Barack Obama and [former New Zealand Prime Minister] John Key and if they met because they were of similar age," Ardern interjected with a smile, referencing the five-day age difference between the two leaders.

"We of course have a higher proportion of men in politics. It's reality. But because two women meet, it's not simply because of their gender."

She went on to describe her country's dependence on $199 million in Finnish imports and the economic potential behind increasing European exports.

When it was her turn to speak, Marin added simply, "We are meeting because we're prime ministers," before turning to Finland's desire to undo its economic dependence on authoritarian regimes.

"It's our job to further [our countries' economic opportunities], regardless of our gender," she concluded.

Reaction to the question was swift and critical on social media, with many labeling the reporter as sexist and misogynistic.

Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin, left, offered a simple rebuttal to a reporter's suggestion she was meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern because of their ages. "We are meeting because we are prime ministers," she said. Dave Rowland/Getty Images hide caption

Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin, left, offered a simple rebuttal to a reporter's suggestion she was meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern because of their ages. "We are meeting because we are prime ministers," she said.

"He was one sentence away from asking the prime ministers if they met to talk about boys and if their periods have synced up yet," one journalist tweeted.

Another Twitter user wrote it was "a shame some journalists spoke to [Ardern and Marin] like they are 1950s housewives organizing a coffee morning."

Neither Ardern, 42, nor Marin, 37, is a stranger to public attention on their ages.

Elected in 2019, Marin was the world's youngest serving head of government until 2021, when Gabriel Boric, age 35, won the Chilean presidency.

Marin has defended her maturity and competency since August, when videos of her dancing and singing with friends at a private party were published online.

"I have a family life, I have a work life and I have free time to spend with my friends. Pretty much the same as many people my age," she said after the news of the videos broke.

She echoed that sentiment again on Wednesday, when another New Zealand reporter pointed out that the title of "party prime minister" had followed her to Auckland.

"During our governmental period, there has been the global pandemic, there's war now in Europe, there's an energy crisis, perhaps an economic crisis in front of us. So there are many things on my plate that are more concerning than my free time," Marin said.

"You are free to discuss and write what you want, but I'm focusing on the issues that are in our program."

Read the original post:

Jacinda Ardern fires back at suggestion she met with Sanna Marin ...

Jacinda Ardern has been dealt a major blow as National Party support in the opinion polls continues to surge. Ms Ardern, who was first elected as New Zealand's Prime Minister in 2017, previously saw her popularity increase during the coronavirus pandemic.

However, support for the Kiwi Labour leader is down to 29 percent, marking her worst approval rating since entering office.

The latest 1News/Kantar poll also revealed that Christopher Luxon's National Party has opened up a five-point lead over Labour in the primary vote.

Minor parties have also witnessed a boost in support.

ACT, which is considered a right-wing and libertarian party, registered 11 percent.

JUST IN:Hungary splits bloc as VDL cuts funds short for Orban over EU rule-of-law row

Ex-Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters was also given a polling heave as support for New Zealand First reached four percent.

New Zealand's Green Party also hold a steady nine percent of the vote, according to the survey.

Sky News Australia has claimed that the opinion poll could see Ms Ardern's Government lose its majority.

Labour was forced to rely on support from New Zealand First from 2017 to 2020.

Recent changes in public mood appear to reflect growing frustrations about the cost of living, rising interest rates and a surge in crime.

A stabbing of an Auckland dairy worker in Ms Ardern's Morningside constituency sparked protests last week as demonstrators expressed concerns about the link between inequality and crime.

Ms Ardern acknowledged it was a difficult time to govern but she and Labour had experience of tough times.

She added: "You see us as a government coming forward with ideas and proposals to take on those challenges.

"Contrast that to the alternative - the Opposition has not produced those ideas.

"Our job is to crack on because we have the privilege of governing, and that is what we're doing."

National leader Luxon, who formerly headed up Air New Zealand, added: "What they can see is a government that's just not getting things done.

"This is a fantastic country, we have great potential, we have great opportunities ahead of us but we're just not realising them, and that's what Kiwis are very frustrated about."

Ms Ardern will face her next electoral test on December 10 in Hamilton West's upcoming by-election.

Hamilton West has been something of a swing seat in recent elections, having voted for the largest party in all nine elections since 1996.

See more here:

Jacinda Ardern dealt major blow as National support surges ahead of New ...

1. Jacinda Ardern's 2023 Election Prospects Dim as New Zealand Recession Looms  Bloomberg
2. Jacinda Ardern vows to focus on economy after months of poor polling  The Guardian
3. PM Jacinda Ardern on plans for next year: 'Making sure the economy is our priority'  RNZ
4. Ardern asks Cabinet ministers to consider priorities over summer  Stuff
5. PM mulls lifting incomes with tax credits, but tax cuts could be a while away  New Zealand Herald
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

More:

Jacinda Ardern's 2023 Election Prospects Dim as New Zealand Recession Looms - Bloomberg

Ukraine invasion: Jacinda Ardern rejects 'Russian disinformation' claiming New Zealand pledged allegiance to the Nazis  Newshub

Here is the original post:

Ukraine invasion: Jacinda Ardern rejects 'Russian disinformation' claiming New Zealand pledged allegiance to the Nazis - Newshub

Jacinda Ardern doesn't apologise over MIQ lottery system as documents reveal Govt considered imprisoning Kiwis who used loophole  Newshub

Go here to see the original:

Jacinda Ardern doesn't apologise over MIQ lottery system as documents reveal Govt considered imprisoning Kiwis who used loophole - Newshub

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Faces an Uphill Battle to Win a Third Term Next ... - Latest  LatestLY

Read the original here:

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Faces an Uphill Battle to Win a Third Term Next ... - Latest - LatestLY