Ardern champions ‘NZ values’ on global stage
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says her debut speech at the United Nations was not meant to cause a rift with Washington.
Speaking to New Zealand media in New York yesterday after her speech, Ardern was asked if her speech was intended as a response to the one given by United States President Donald Trump two days earlier. ‘‘I used the opportunity today to talk on behalf of New Zealand, values that we have had for a long time.’’
Her speech stood starkly at odds with Trump’s speech on Tuesday where he delivered an excoriating critique of international institutions and scorned multilateralism as a threat to US sovereignty and patriotism. Ardern was among a growing ‘‘club’’ of world leaders who have taken a stand against Trump in their defence of multilateralism and rejection of his world view.
When asked if her stance could cause a rift with Washington, she said New Zealand needed to have an independent policy line.
‘‘We need to speak to New Zealand values regardless of what any other world leader says.
‘‘We have held those values long before I was around, it’s not new.’’
New Zealand’s unique view and position in the world started long before any particular leader, she said. She told reporters it had not been a tactic to not say Trump’s name throughout her time in New York. But when asked if she liked the American leader, she said she doesn’t know Donald Trump, she knows the president of the US.
She was surprised her comment that ‘‘me too’’ needs to become ‘‘we too’’ received applause from the general assembly. ‘‘I had heard general assemblies were reasonably stoic with not a lot of feedback.’’
Ardern carried a comb with her to the podium which was gifted to her by Ngati Rehia. ‘‘I like to have a little piece of home with me on occasions like that.’’
‘‘We need to speak to New Zealand values regardless of what any other world leader says.’’ PM Jacinda Ardern
On Thursday, she delivered the keynote address at the opening of UN Climate Week, speaking at the One Planet Summit hosted by the president of France, and hosting the inaugural meeting of Carbon Neutrality Alliance, along with the Marshall Islands.