New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has once again displayed her poise amidst unexpected trials, smoothly continuing a television interview after a 5.8 magnitude earthquake.
Ardern was speaking to The AM Show host Ryan Bridge via video call on Monday morning when the New Zealand Parliament Buildings in Wellington, AKA “the Beehive,” were hit by “quite a decent shake.” Occurring at 7:53 a.m., the earthquake was centred near the town of Levin, approximately 50 miles north of Wellington. It was also felt 260 miles away in Aukland.
“We’re just having a bit of an earthquake here, Ryan,” Ardern smiled as the building visibly shook around her. She quickly indicated she was alright to continue once the tremors passed. “We’re fine, Ryan. I’m not under any hanging lights, I look like I’m in a structurally sound place.”
Before the earthquake Arden had been talking about her fiancé Clarke Gayford’s backyard sheds, plural.
A research poll recently found Ardern to be New Zealand’s most popular prime minister in a century, and she’s also earned fans around the world. Her compassionate response to the Christchurch terror attack, effective management of the coronavirus pandemic, and sense of humour have already endeared her to many, particularly in a time where good leadership seems hard to come by.