New Zealand Prime Minister (PM) Jacinda Ardern has cancelled her own wedding as the nation imposes new restrictions in the wake of the Covid-19 Omicron variant.
The prime minister was rumoured to be planning to marry her longtime partner Clarke Gayford.
“My wedding will not be going ahead,” she said.
In a briefing, Ardern said, “I just join many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic and to anyone who’s caught up in that scenario, I am so sorry.”
She also urged citizens to get booster and reduce contact with others to avoid the spread.
In a video, she was asked by a reporter how she felt about the postponement of her wedding, Ardern replied: “Such is life.”
The “red setting” of the country’s pandemic response includes heightened measures such as mask-wearing and limits on gatherings which will go into effect on Monday.
The latest curbs come after nine cases of Omicron were detected in a single family that flew to Auckland for a wedding earlier this month.
Pakistan-origin doctor, Dr Naeem Rashid has been honoured with the most prestigious bravery award, the New Zealand Cross. Rashid sacrificed his life to save others during the Christchurch mosque massacre in 2019. His award was received by his wife, Ambreen Naeem.
Ten people, who risked their lives to protect innocents during an attack, are awarded various bravery awards in New Zealand.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern said, “The courage demonstrated by these New Zealanders was selfless and extraordinary. They have our deepest respect and gratitude for their actions on that day.” she added, “Each of them put their life on the line to save others. If not for their collective actions, the loss of life could have been even greater.”
On March 15, 2019, a white supremacist gunman, Brenton Tarrant killed 44 people at Al Noor Mosque during Friday prayers. The attacker went to another mosque, Linwood Mosque, and took seven innocent lives. He broadcasted the whole attack on Facebook.
Dr Naeem Rashid challenged the attacker in Al Noor Mosque, disregarding his own safety. When the gunman entered and began firing in the main prayer hall, people started to flee but Rashid ran towards him.
“In so doing, he enabled others to escape and paid the ultimate price with the loss of his own life. I want to acknowledge Dr Rashid’s wife and family particularly, who will know all too well that his acts that day were a reflection of who he was as a person,” Ardern said.
Rashid’s wife, Ambreen Naeem, expressed gratefulness while receiving an award and said, “Today we can’t see him, but he has spread his message of peace and love, all over the world.”
Another survivor, Abdul Aziz who is an Afghan refugee was also honored with the New Zealand Cross award.
Abdul Aziz, an Afghan refugee was also honored with the New Zealand Cross award.
He said, “It feels good, like you’ve done something good in your life.”
New Zealand also has given “New Zealand Bravery Decoration” and “New Zealand Bravery Medal” to eight people who have shown great courage to safeguard innocent lives in the Christchurch attack 2019.
A New Zealand lawmaker, MP Julie Anne Genter rode to the hospital while in labour last night to give birth, reports The Guardian.
She wrote on her Facebook, “Big news! At 3.04 am this morning we welcomed the newest member of our family. I genuinely wasn’t planning to cycle in labour, but it did end up happening. My contractions weren’t that bad when we left at 2 am to go to the hospital – though they were 2-3 min apart and picking up in intensity by the time we arrived 10 minutes later.”
Ms Genter, an advocate for cycling, was a minister three years ago when she took a similar trip to deliver her first child in 2018.
Netizens have given mixed reactions on Twitter.
In 2018, The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern also made history for the first time, bringing her infant to attend the United Nations General Assembly. She received appreciation from the world for setting an example for women’s empowerment.
After her victory in general elections, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has appointed the country’s first indigenous female foreign minister, with a facial tattoo.
Newly appointed Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta, who is a Maori – a minority group in New Zealand – wears a traditional tattoo on her chin, called a moko kauae. The Maori tattoos are usually bestowed on high-ranking women as a reflection of their standing or power in the community.
Four years ago, she made history by becoming country’s first female member of the parliament to wear a Maori chin tattoo, and this year she will take on the role of foreign minister.
“Moko is a statement of identity, like a passport,” said Mahuta. “I am at a time in my life where I am ready to make a clear statement that this is who I am, and this is my position in New Zealand.”
Politicians from both sides of the political spectrum congratulated Mahuta on her appointment as foreign minister. Rukuwai Tipene-Allen, a political journalist for Maori Television, said Mahuta’s appointment was hugely significant. “The first face that people see at an international level is someone who speaks, looks and sounds like a Maori”
PM Ardern, whose center-left Labour Party was reelected in the elections last month, has one of the most diverse parliament in the world. Almost half of the country’s lawmakers are women, which is higher than the global average of 25%. Moreover, she has also appointed the first openly gay deputy prime minister.
“This is a cabinet and an executive that is based on merit that also happen to be incredibly diverse and I am proud of that,” Ardern said Monday as she announced her cabinet.
