Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern urged politicians to make financial security part of rebuilding public trust, The Guardian reported after her Sunday discussion at the Sydney Opera House.
The Guardian said Ardern made the appeal during a conversation with author Anna Funder. She also criticized politicians for worsening polarization and urged them to avoid binary thinking and the language of violence, the newspaper reported. Ardern called for leaders to “rebuild trust by building financial security,” according to the report.
Her broader explanation, as reported by The Guardian, centered on insecurity she associated with globalization. She cited institutions such as the World Trade Organization as targets of political frustration. Ardern also presented proposals such as Brexit as responses to that insecurity that helped create an opening for leaders including Donald Trump, the newspaper said. Those points reflect her reported interpretation of political developments.
Ardern also referred to the Christchurch mosque shootings on March 15, 2019. The Guardian reported that she described the attacks as a turning point in her understanding of how online platforms could be used to incite violence.
The Sydney Opera House listed the Nov. 1 event, “The Art of Disagreement,” as part of the University of Sydney’s Conversations for Good series. Its announced themes included political divisions and how people can hear opposing views without deepening those divisions. University Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott hosted the discussion.
The University of Sydney announced Oct. 27 that Ardern would become a Professor of Practice from October 2026, based in its School of Public Health. The university said her work would address empathetic leadership, social cohesion and civic trust. The role is not full-time teaching and is to include guest lectures, masterclasses and mentoring, as well as work with students, researchers and the wider community.
