PM a ‘shoe-in’ to build trans-Tasman bridges
It can only help in shoring up trans-Tasman relationships that Malcolm Turnbull will now be walking a mile (or more) in Jacinda Ardern’s shoes.
Ardern gave the Australian prime minister and his wife Lucy pairs of the Kiwi-made shoes Allbirds during her trip across the ditch this week. Ardern is a vocal fan of the merino sneakers, and has some herself.
She wore a pair of laceless All Birds to a meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in Auckland last month.
And during her trip to Australia this week, she has gifted pairs to the Turnbulls.
Some may say it’s an unusual gift to give to the leader of another country, but they are trendy and very Kiwi – kind of like Ardern herself.
Allbirds, with their New Zealand-made appeal and the use of iconic merino wool to keep down odour and regulate temperature, have taken off recently. And now the shoe is on the other foot. Or is that mixing metaphors?
Then, almost as if it were planned, the Turnbull’s reciprocated with a pair of Australian leather shoes for Ardern and Clark Gayford’s baby – due in June.
It is understood New Zealand’s first couple were gifted a pair of iconic Australian brand Uggs. It’s understood the exchange of gifts happened during a visit to the Turnbull’s Point Piper mansion on Thursday night.
Ardern and Gayford joined the Turnbulls for the traditional private dinner ahead of yesterday’s trans-Tasman leaders forum, where big issues including refugee resettlement, deportation of criminals to New Zealand and the rights of Kiwi citizens in Australia were discussed.