Former New Zealand Premier Jacinda Ardern awarded title of dame

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - New Zealand's former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was given the honorary title of dame on Monday for her leadership during the coronavirus pandemic and the 2019 Christchurch terrorist attack.

"So many of the things we went through as a nation over the last five years were about all of us rather than one individual," Ardern said as she was awarded the title, the second-most prestigious in the country, at King Charles' birthday honors.

"For me, this a way to say thank you — to my family, to my colleagues, and to the people who supported me to take on the most challenging and rewarding role of my life," added Ardern, who took office as premier in 2017 and served in that role until resigning earlier this year.

Her successor Chris Hipkins said Ardern was being honored for her exceptional contributions during "some of the greatest challenges our country has faced in modern times," according to a statement from his office.

"Leading New Zealand's response to the 2019 terrorist attacks and to the COVID-19 pandemic represented periods of intense challenge for our 40th Prime Minister, during which time I saw firsthand that her commitment to New Zealand remained absolute," said the premier.

Ardern, 42, announced her resignation from the top position in January, saying she no longer had "enough in the tank" to continue the nation’s top job.

She addressed parliament for the last time in April where she received a standing ovation at the end of her tearful speech, during which she also talked about the tragic 2019 Christchurch terrorist attack and said she still struggled to talk about the deadly mosque attack.

"What came next is one of the most profound memories I have of that period, he thanked us, here was someone who had been through one of the most horrific experiences I could imagine and he thanked New Zealand and expressed gratitude for his home," she said of her meeting with survivors after the attack.

On March 15, 2019, Brenton Tarrant, an Australian white supremacist, killed 51 people and injured 40 more at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch, using semiautomatic weapons and live streaming the attack.

The New Zealand government has appointed Ardern as a special envoy for the Christchurch Call, or in the fight against extremism and terrorist content only.