Background
Ardern grew up in Morrinsville and Murupara, where her father, Ross Ardern, worked as a policeman.
Ardern grew up in Morrinsville and Murupara, where her father, Ross Ardern, worked as a policeman.
She attended Waikato University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications.
She was first elected to parliament as a list Member of Parliament at the 2008 general election. She joined the Labour Party at a young age, and became a senior figure in the Young Labour Party. After graduating from Waikato University, she spent time working in the offices of Philosophy Goff and of Helen Clark as a researcher
She later spent time in London, working as a senior policy advisor.
After a high placement on Labour"s party list for the 2008 election (her ranking at number 20 virtually guaranteed a seat in Parliament) Ardern returned from London to campaign full-time. She also became the Party"s candidate for the Waikato electorate.
Ardern was unsuccessful in the electorate vote, but was elected as a List Member of Parliament. Upon election, she became the youngest sitting Member of Parliament in Parliament, succeeding fellow Labour Member of Parliament Darren Hughes, and remained the youngest Member of Parliament until the election of Gareth Hughes on 11 February 2010. Jacinda Ardern has featured as a panel guest on the Television New Zealand show Back Benches.
On 19 November 2008, shortly after the 2008 general election, Ardern featured for the first time on this show.
She featured again on Wednesday 23 June 2010, shortly after the shadow cabinet reshuffle, in which Ardern had no portfolio change. She has also made regular appearances on Television New Zealand"s Breakfast programme as part of the "Young Guns" feature, in which she appeared alongside National Member of Parliament Simon Bridges. Ardern contested the high-profile Auckland Central seat for Labour in the 2011 general election, standing against incumbent National Member of Parliament Nikki Kaye for National and Greens candidate Denise Roche.
However, she returned to Parliament via the party list.
She maintains an office within the electorate as a listed Member of Parliament based in Auckland Central. After Goff resigned from the Party leadership following his defeat at the 2011 election, Ardern supported David Shearer over David Cunliffe.
She was elevated to the fourth-ranking position in the Shadow Cabinet on 19 December 2011, becoming Spokesperson for Social Development under new leader David Shearer.
In 2004, Ardern paid $20 to have her name included in a "full page ad in a major New Zealand newspaper supporting the Civil Union Bill." She voted in favour of Marriage Equality Bill, a bill which allowed same-sex couples to legally marry in New Zealand. Adern believes student loans should be kept interest-free.