….somewhere in the world, but definitely not New Zealand.
Welcome everyone! It’s great to see so many familiar faces. I can’t wait to share my new book with all of you.
Writing A Different Kind of Power was a labour of love. No pun intended!
It allowed me to fully appreciate myself and reflect on my achievements, of which I am immensely proud, as the youngest female (apologies to all my non-binary friends and associates) head of government, ever!
The many hours I spent working on it reminded me of the huge challenges I faced and how I overcame them.
It reaffirmed how kindness, said by some - well, almost everyone in NZ these days - to be soft, sentimental, naive even, has a power and strength nothing else on this planet has ... .except perhaps progressive socialism!
I know this to be true and I know my detractors are wrong.
This book is a deeply personal memoir covering all the pivotal moments during my tenure as the youngest female leader ever.
I may have already mentioned that but I am unapologetic in standing up for women and, of course, transgenders of all persuasions who can be women if they so choose; and mothers, of which I am also one and indeed, I was the first woman almost ever to give birth in office. Another proud achievement and challenge overcome.
A Different Kind of Power concludes with the reasons why I chose to leave office. Without wishing to spoil this captivating read, let me just say that I could no longer flourish and be the best-me-that-I-could-be in the atmosphere of hate encouraged by the far-Right in New Zealand.
My biggest regret is that if I had chosen to stay, and I had managed to even remotely define my proposed Hate Speech Law designed to throttle “misinformation” and outlaw alternative opinion, I could have prevented the knee-jerk lurch to fascist extremism that now pervades my home country…in which I no longer feel safe residing.
Anyway, I’m keen to “field” - please, no questions about my wonderful fellowship programme for enlightened political leaders - only fair-and balanced questions on my memoir.
Toby Farl-Eftwinger, The Guardian….
Jacinda, it’s so good to see you again. You must come for dinner, darling.
Oops! I’ll just put my professional journalist’s hat on.
Ms Ardern, did you come up with the inspired title for the book? As a fellow wordsmith it is so deliciously thought-provoking.
Why thank you, Toby. I’d love to come for dinner with you and Rupert.
To answer your question, it was partly my idea and partly my publisher’s.
It’s a clever play on words dove-tailing my unique brand of kind-and-caring leadership with the power to transform lives, society, and indeed the world, into a progressive socialist paradise.
It wasn’t my first choice, though. I would have preferred The Devastating Power of Kindness. I think it packs more of a punch but the publishing powers-that-be didn’t like the D-word.
Joe Public, Breaking Views….
Is that because it would remind people of the wholesale economic and social devastation caused by your “kindness” and political agenda, while leader of NZ?
I’m sorry, have we met? I’ve never heard of …Breaking Views.
I hope it’s not one of those ultra-nationalist internet discussion sites that have sprung up and demonstrate the dire need for online censorship and vetting of alternative opinion.
I selflessly guided New Zealand during an unprecedented series of national crises. The Christchurch Mosque Massacre, The Whakaari volcanic eruption, the Covid Pandemic, to name but a few.
And during all of that I made my country a place where your ethnicity, not the colour of your skin, is valued. A place where your iwi and pronouns define you… and give you guaranteed, unelected power on local councils and in countless other public institutions.
That’s something I’m unashamedly proud of.
Toby Farl-Eftwinger, The Guardian….
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe you briefly mentioned in passing that you were the youngest female leader ever?
How does it feel to be a shining role model for all young women today - of any gender - and an inspiration of what kindness can achieve in a world where diversity, inclusivity and equity are still fighting for survival?
How intuitive of you, Toby. This is hard-hitting journalism at its best.
Take note, Mr….Breaking Views!
I always feel humbled when held up as an exemplary example to women...or just everyone really.
Ultimately, I would like my legacy to be a kind-and caring blueprint for all nations to follow, supported and nurtured in the bosom of progressive socialism. Where hate is banished and the ability to offend, or even slightly upset, is prosecuted to the full force of the law.
Joe Public, Breaking Views….
Isn’t it true that you were the most polarising leader of NZ in modern times?
That you caused unprecedented social division; you bought off the media; you tried to silence freedom of speech and opinion; you persecuted the unvaccinated; you made child poverty and mental health much worse; and, you propagandised our education system and re-imagined NZ’s history?
Isn’t it true that you left office before you were unceremoniously dumped by the electorate who had had a gutsful of your brand of highly selective kindness and caring?
Is that what it says in your memoir….Jacinda?
Oh, and before you ask, no, I don’t want to have dinner with you tonight.
I must apologise to all the decent, fair-minded, balanced people in the room. That you had to listen to that tirade of bigoted, far-Right vitriol upsets me.
In fact, I’m so distressed that I cannot bring myself to answer any of the factual points raised by the questioner and even if I could I would not dignify these inconvenient truths with an answer.
I’m sure all of you understand and support me in this.
It just remains for me to urge everyone, even those ethnicities and genders in society who are responsible for the current mess the world is trying to recover from (you know who you are), to read A Different Kind of Power and learn from one who can envision a new path.
For those who have already seen the light, I'm confident my book will fan the flames of peaceful activism and inspire a call to action for more empathetic leaders.
I thank you for your attention and I’ll now sign copies of my book.
Buy one for $50, two for $99.99!
Derek Mackie is a former geologist with a keen interest in current affairs and a penchant for satire.
4 comments:
Great stuff Derek
You could have also added to her many credits - an endless supply of natural gas! Unfortunately her emissions are not the undetectable variety that would benefit from planting trees.
The word 'kind' is forever tainted. Not even in use at our household. Conjures up too much bad stuff.
Someone said that a (currently in NZ) Czech person was buying the whole print run. Why would he?
I wonder " how long it will take to place the full stop after the sale price of $50.oo reducing price to $5.00 and will be available either on Ebay (USA) and/or TradeMe (NZ)" ?
Yes I can see this book becoming available ex library lists, in the coming years minus a dust jacket, with excessive wear and page stains, black pen deletions, lurid comments on some pages and the other fact that some people took the book from the library and did not return it. Thus it becomes a book " lost in time", other than the signed copy at Harvard University, held in safe secure storage.
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