Jacinda Ardern conveyed her country’s condolences to the ‘extraordinary’ Queen Elizabeth II and shared a poignant tale between the two that, according to her, exemplified her leadership qualities.
Queen Elizabeth II passed away at the age of 96, bringing to an end the longest reign of any British monarch, with Charles, the former Prince of Wales, now reigning as King Charles III.
Ms. Ardern said she was awoken by a police officer flashing a flashlight into her chamber and informing her about the passing of the longest-reigning British monarch.
Shortly afterwards, the prime minister said in Wellington behind a framed portrait of Her Majesty that New Zealand was facing “a time of deep sadness.”
‘I know I speak for all New Zealanders in conveying our deepest sympathy to members of the Royal family and condolences to King Charles III at this time of enormous loss,’ she said.
‘A chapter is closing today. With that, we remember an incredible woman that we were lucky to call our Queen.
‘She was extraordinary.
‘She was a woman who worked into her 90s.
‘The last days of the Queen’s life captures who she was in so many ways, working to the very end on behalf of the people she loved.’
Ms Ardern recalled her first meeting with the Queen, when she gifted a picture of Her Majesty laughing on an early visit to New Zealand, decades ago.
‘Not only did she remember the visit, she could remember what was making her laugh,’ she said.
‘That speaks to me of someone who gave a life of service but who also enjoyed the role that she played a difficult I’m sure as it was.’
The formal period of mourning in New Zealand will continue until a State Memorial Service is performed around 10 days following the Queen’s funeral.
Flags will be flown at half-staff until the burial, with the exception of Proclamation Day, when King Charles III will be formally crowned.
New Zealanders will be asked to sign condolence books at parliament and the National Library, as well as provided with flower-deposit locations.
New Zealanders are supportive of the monarchy, with the most recent substantial survey on a prospective split from the Commonwealth last November, on the occasion of the Queen’s death, finding 50% against and 44% in favour.
Ms. Ardern has said that she has “never sensed urgency” from New Zealanders to become a republic.
New Zealand’s most popular broadcaster Mike Hosking cried on air, saying ‘I don’t know that I can do this, just give me a couple of minutes’.
Chris Luxon, the head of the opposition, also praised Queen Elizabeth’s “unflinching dignity, compassion, and selflessness.”
‘The strength and stability of Her Majesty’s leadership of the Commonwealth was a reassuring anchor for New Zealand and New Zealanders in uncertain and changing times,’ he said.
Queen Elizabeth II has visited New Zealand ten times, most recently in 2002.