PM Christopher Luxon says Dame Jacinda Ardern is his modern day hero

A political storm erupted this week after ACT Party leader David Seymour took aim at Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi for naming African military leader Ibrahim Traoré as his "modern-day hero." Traoré, who seized power in Burkina Faso via a coup, has been widely condemned on the world stage for suppressing elections, banning homosexuality, and overseeing violent crackdowns that have left hundreds dead.

ACT slammed Waititi’s comments as dangerous and disrespectful to democratic values. “This is a man responsible for horrific human rights abuses. For any New Zealand MP to look up to someone like that is deeply concerning,” an ACT spokesman said. They added that it shows a worrying acceptance of authoritarianism creeping into New Zealand politics.

But while Waititi’s controversial statement made headlines, another hero-worship moment was quietly unfolding, this time from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon himself.

In what was meant to be an off-the-record conversation, Luxon was asked who he considered to be his own modern-day hero. His response raised eyebrows: Dame Jacinda Ardern. Luxon reportedly made a point of using her full title, showing not only admiration but reverence for the former Prime Minister.

Luxon still fondly remembers his first hug with Dame Jacinda.

Luxon is said to have praised Ardern’s firm leadership during the COVID-19 era, describing her ability to follow the directives of the World Health Organization and the World Economic Forum as "nothing short of heroic." He admired how she imposed some of the harshest lockdowns and mandates in the developed world, enforcing a two-tier society based on compliance with government orders.

According to sources close to the Prime Minister, Luxon admitted that he often stays up late rewatching Ardern’s televised COVID-19 briefings, jotting down notes and phrases. He reportedly believes that her command of the media and control over the public narrative is something to aspire to.

“Say what you like about her politics,” Luxon allegedly said, “but she had total control. That kind of leadership is powerful. She’s the greatest Prime Minister New Zealand has ever had, and if I can follow her blueprint, I’ll be knighted in no time.”

The irony wasn’t lost on political commentators, with some pointing out that while ACT’s David Seymour was attacking one MP for idolising a dictator abroad, New Zealand’s own Prime Minister was idealising a leader many still associate with division, censorship, and unprecedented state control.

Critics from the right have questioned Luxon’s judgement, with some accusing him of quietly embracing the same authoritarian tendencies that National voters rejected in the last election. Meanwhile, supporters of Ardern welcomed the praise, saying it was a sign that even her political opponents recognise the scale of what she accomplished.

As the dust settles, the country is left asking a bigger question: who do our political leaders really look up to - and what does that say about the direction New Zealand is heading in?

At the next election, there are only two real options — and they’re not red or blue. Make your choice carefully.

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