Given how well-loved New Zealand’s Prime Minister is, Australians are voicing their preference for swapping leaders with their Kiwi cousins. As compassionate, human-focused leadership styles gain prominence, Prime Minister Arden fits the mould in a leader that many Aussies currently find lacking. We explore the insights behind why Aussies are loving Ardern’s soft power approach, and understand what this means for the future of leadership.
Russell Crowe, who has 2.7 million followers on Twitter, has used his platform to boast about New Zealand’s beloved Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, and extend the offer of her governance to their Australian neighbours. "Look... just accept it... she’s awesome. Is it time to make Australia and New Zealand into one country with @jacindaardern as PM? Not trying to be controversial... just practical," Crowe tweeted. Along with the thousands of likes and retweets the post accumulated, the post sparked a swathe of support among many Aussies – including a local councillor from Sydney – who said they wanted an Ardern-style government.
Australia’s love for Ardern is more than political – it speaks to the shifting qualities that people are looking for in leaders. Although voter attitudes are edging towards the left in Australia, it’s Ardern’s personal choices as much as political platforms that are resonating with people. As a figure who has been publicly lauded for being the first world leader to bring her baby to the UN, Ardern has become a cult figure through embodying the more human kind of leadership, especially in an age when global politics are dominated by partisanism and polarised populations.
Mira Kopolovic is a behavioural analyst at Canvas8, which specialises in behavioural insights and consumer research. She has a MA which focused on visual culture and artist-brand collaborations, and spends her spare time poring over dystopian literature.
