Ardern and Transformation
Adern said a transformational government was one that brought about lasting changes rather than one that implemented radical changes.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/election-2020-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-says-labours-deputy-pm-will-be-the-deputy-leader-but-is-that-kelvin-davis/ODEMJYIKQJWF4X36DBTGQ4WASM/
https://theconversation.com/nz-election-2020-jacinda-ardern-promised-transformation-instead-the-times-transformed-her-142900
The rhetoric of transformation has been replaced by the language of recovery.
Yet transformation is not far off the mark, especially where Ardern herself is concerned. Three years ago she was the newly minted leader of her party and something of a political curiosity. Many doubted she had the ability to save her party from an electoral thrashing, let alone become prime minister.
Since then, she has become a mother, led the country through a series of crises, and made more hard calls and tough decisions than any New Zealand prime minister in recent memory. She has become a seasoned leader — and one of the most popular prime ministers in the nation’s history.
Pragmatism over ideology
Ardern’s personal trajectory mirrors — and to some degree has driven — a shift in the tone of New Zealand politics. Transformation is probably too strong a word for it, but something is happening and it is reflected in Ardern’s approach to leadership.
The prime minister appeals less to conviction than to disposition. Her approach resonates with people for whom politics is fundamentally relational rather than ideological.
It is Ardern’s poise under pressure, calmness and ability not to rise to anything faintly resembling bait that has deeply resonated.
Ardern is no ideologue. She gives people who don’t agree with her party’s policies permission to vote for her. It’s the kind of leadership that can change what counts as political common sense, and it appeals to a lot of people in times of stress and uncertainty.