Dame Jacinda Ardern announces her book is finished and out June

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Dame Jacinda Ardern has announced her memoir, A Different Kind of Power, is complete and will be coming out on June 3.

“I’ll confess it’s taken me a while,” Ardern wrote on social media.

“But I’ve tried to put on a page how it feels to lead, all the highs and lows, the parts of the job people don’t often see, and the many lessons I learned along the way.

“But I also wanted to share why I believe in empathetic leadership, and that kindness isn’t just something we should teach our kids, there’s a place for it in politics too. Especially in these times.”

In a video message, Ardern said “after being initially quite reluctant, I decided to write a book, and it is finally done”.

“I shared it recently with someone, the manuscript, and they sent me a note back saying that they found it surprising, and I guess that's because I've written about things that I haven't shared before, but I've also tried to share how it feels to lead, especially if you're surprised to find yourself in leadership.

“And to anyone who has ever doubted themselves, I really hope there's something in it for them as well.”

The Post reported last year the former New Zealand prime minister had been criss-crossing the globe as a keynote speaker in private, paid or public speaking engagements.

Appearing on Good Morning America in September, Ardern said she was “writing a book which has taken me away from home a bit more than I would like, but [she and husband Clarke are] great and looking forward to getting that book off the table”.

“It’s been going on awhile.”

Ardern this week said the book, published by Penguin in New Zealand and Australia, Macmillan in Britain and Crown in the United States, would be a “pretty personal” read.