Ardern vows ‘govt of change’

Kiwi PM-elect prepares to take power after stunning win

WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s prime minister-elect Jacinda Ardern promised “a government of change” as she met with leaders of her centre-left Labour Party to prepare to take power after a stunning election win.

The charismatic 37-year-old received a standing ovation from the Labour caucus after forging a coalition with minor parties on Thursday to clinch victory in the Sept 23 election.

“This will be a government of change, it will be a government we can be proud of,” she said yesterday.

“We have been gifted by the people of New Zealand an opportunity, and it is for us to make the most of that.”

Ardern expressed confidence her new government would see out its full term, despite long-standing tensions between junior coalition partners the Greens and New Zealand First (NZF).

NZF leader Winston Peters and the Greens have a rocky history, which descended into name-calling earlier this year when the environ- mentalists said the 72-year-old’s anti-immigration rhetoric was racist.

Ardern insisted yesterday that the three groups could work together and said she had faith in Peters, an outspoken maverick whose 40-year career has been punctuated by controversy.

She said Peters, whose declaration of support for Ardern on Thursday tipped the election her way, successfully joined a Labourled coalition in 2005.

“Labour has been in an agree- ment with NZF before ... Mr Peters and New Zealand First were a party of their word, that provided stability and we delivered,” she told Radio New Zealand.

Ardern, who took over the Labour leadership less than three months ago and is now set to become New Zealand’s youngest leader since 1856, said she was still processing her meteoric rise.

“I probably need a bit of time for quiet reflection before it all sinks in, but for now it’s straight to the grindstone,” she told TV3. — AFP