Judge Ardern on her performance

It’s likely, a year on from the general election that thrust her, perhaps somewhat unexpectedly, into the role of prime minister, that Jacinda Ardern has developed her own way of avoiding much of the inconsequential media chatter around her. You’d have to, surely, to do the job.

So she might not be aware of the reference to her on a morning TV broadcast on Monday as a ‘‘new squeezy toy in the toy shop’’ at the United Nations in New York, where she has travelled for the UN General Assembly, and will be giving several keynote addresses, as well as making a handful of prearranged television appearances.

To be fair, there are probably worse ways someone in her position could be described, but it’s nevertheless interesting to contemplate the question of whether or not a male politician would be referred to in that way, and in all honesty, it’s hard to see it happening, whatever the political stripe of the man in question. Which gives the reference a disrespectful tone.

Yes, it could be argued it also alludes to the fact Ardern’s charisma has given her massive global star power, and as a result, a lot of other leaders, and overseas media, will be keen to meet her on this trip. She’ll certainly get more attention than John Key would have in similar circumstances.

But should she be expected to accept that as a trade-off for being described in a way that could also be interpreted as suggesting she’s all show and little substance, that the clamour is purely down to her novelty value, as a young leader who also happens to be a woman, who also happens to have given birth to a baby while in office?

The smart money says taking a look at the comments on the stories filed from New York about her trip will confirm that’s exactly how a lot of Kiwis view her. Some already have, in truth.

There are some striking parallels between Ardern and Barack Obama when it comes to their levels of acceptance at home and abroad. Obama’s prowess as an orator, along with the fact that he was the first black United States president, made him hugely popular globally, but a touchstone for some irrationally vitriolic opposition back home that has persisted well beyond his eight years in the Oval Office. Ardern will identify with that to a degree.

In a perfect world, both Obama and Ardern would have been judged purely on their ability as politicians, completely apart from race or gender, but no-one could honestly make the argument that has happened.

Ardern should be judged on her Government’s legislative programme and how that is progressing. The workings of the Labour/nz First/ Green Government and how those are affecting it are fair game, the stoush over the country’s refugee quota, and other issues pitting her against Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, fair enough.

She was also criticised on Monday for her Government’s work thus far on climate change, which she referred to last year as ‘‘my generation’s nuclear-free moment’’. On this trip, the substance of what she says on that, and whether or not we see what she’s telling the world being applied at home, should absolutely be grounds for judgment here.

After all, that’s her job. Being a young, glamorous woman isn’t, nor is being a new mother.

‘‘There are some striking parallels between Ardern and Barack Obama when it comes to their levels of acceptance at home and abroad.’’