New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern bows

After five years in the job, the prime minister will be replaced on Wednesday by Chris Hipkins, the country’s Labor leader.

A moment full of emotions. In her last public speech before stepping down as New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, who announced her resignation last week, expressed her appreciation for her time as head of government.

“I leave feeling so grateful that I have fulfilled this wonderful role for so many years,” she told reporters in the northern Māori village of Ratana, on the eve of the inauguration of his successor, Chris Hipkins.

“Not enough energy”

Jacinda Ardern, 42, justified her decision by the fact that she no longer had enough energy to continue performing her duties, after five years marked by a deadly volcanic eruption, the worst attack ever in the country and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her resignation, which came less than three years after a landslide election victory, sparked a nationwide debate about demonizing women leaders, particularly on social media.

Chris Hepkins has described the attacks on Jacinda Ardern as “absolutely heinous” while she was head of state. But Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday she would “hate” that her sudden departure was seen as a criticism of her country.

The outgoing Labor government’s popularity has been strained in recent months by a looming recession and the resurgence of the Conservative opposition.