Waikato BCS grad Jacinda Ardern becomes leader of the NZ Labour Party
02 August 2017
Jacinda Ardern completed a Bachelor of Communication Studies at Waikato Management School from 1999 to 2001; passing all her papers with straight As.
After graduating, she spent time working as a researcher in the office of Minister of Foreign Affairs Phil Goff and then Prime Minister Helen Clark.
Ardern then moved to London where she worked as a senior policy advisor for the Better Regulation Executive in the UK Cabinet Office, with a focus on improving the way that local authorities interfaced with business. She was also seconded to the Home Office to assist with a review of policing in England and Wales.
In 2007 Ardern became the second woman ever elected president of IUSY, the world's largest international political youth organisation with headquarters in Vienna, which saw her spend time in countries such as Jordan, Israel, Algeria and China.
Ardern first stood as a candidate for Labour in Waikato in 2008 and entered Parliament for the first time as a list MP. In February 2017 she became MP for Mt Albert in a by-election, and just a month later she was elected as deputy leader of the Labour Party.
Following Andrew Little's resignation, Ardern was elected unopposed as leader of the Labour Party on 1 August 2017.
She is spokeswoman for justice, children, arts culture and heritage, and small business, and associate spokeswoman for Auckland issues.