New baby above the political fray
Politics builds barriers, but the PM’s first child has already broken down some tribal walls.
We live in an incredible country; two childrelated stories – similarly evocative and starkly different – that are making waves around the world, prove it.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has had her first child, and is showing the world women can reach for the top job and not sacrifice the opportunity to be a mother.
And New Zealand’s cool with that.
The country is swaddled happily, basking in the glow of global coverage seemingly envious of the laid back, mostly progressive, live-andlet-live Kiwi attitude that allows our leader six weeks maternity leave.
She’s just another of New Zealand’s working mums. She will find it hard but will get on with it. Her brand of living feminism is New Zealand’s brand – one that began with being the first country in the world to give women the right to vote 125 years ago and won’t stop with this week’s new arrival.
Partner Clarke Gayford is his own symbol of modern parenting – a stay-at-home dad and primary caregiver. As former Labour prime minister Helen Clark says: ‘‘Here he is ... saying: ‘I’m going to do this, I’m going to support Jacinda, her job’s important to me, it’s important to the country’’’.
Aside from all that, when the news broke early Thursday morning that the baby was on its way, Parliament seemed a nicer place – despite some particularly hard politicking over fuel tax in the House this week.
Welcoming a new baby to the world is above politics.
With the horrific images coming from the US border states, something to dull the wounding cynicism is sorely needed.
For the millions of decent Americans as outraged as the rest of the world at the sight of watching children sob as they’re separated and detained – away from their mothers, and some in cages – in a democracy that likes to paint itself as the greatest in the world, that ship has sailed.
It’s indefensible, and yet there are dyed-in-the-wool red Republicans contorting themselves to defend it. It’s abhorrent, and the people who claim it’s necessary are heartless.
But what the ugly episode has served to highlight is an extreme form of tribalism that has set over modern politics. Supporting one’s "team’’ over an idea.
New Zealand is not immune to that tribalism. It plays out most days in troll form on sites such as Twitter and Facebook – people latching on to a single line of a news piece, blinded by their own politics in their attacks on others.
New Zealand is far from the US, but it’s also far from perfect. Still, it’s not just nice for the soul, but it’s good for perspective, to sit back and realise that life here is pretty great for most people. If that line compels you to scoff in a rage of ‘‘what-aboutisms’’ then maybe check yourself.
We’ve seen the disaster that can occur when there is no room left for bipartisanship.
This week’s tale of two countries has shown the blinding power of politics, and the power of casting politics aside.
The country is swaddled happily, basking in the glow of global coverage.