Jacinda Ardern explains meaning behind her outfit – and leaves The Project stars in hysterics
Jacinda Ardern explained her choice of outfit and expertly sidestepped tough questions on the Australian election in a fun-filled television interview with The Project.
The New Zealand Prime Minister admitted she had worn a dark green dress to make Aussies arriving in Wellington feel welcome as Australia’s national colours are green and gold.
Ardern reopened the borders on Wednesday for quarantine-free travel, nine months after she shut down the short-lived Trans-Tasman bubble last July as a Covid-19 outbreak spread across NZ.
Jacinda Ardern gave a polished prediction on the Australian election as she welcomed Aussies back on Kiwi soil in a comedic television interview
The New Zealand Prime Minister, admitted she had worn a dark green dress to make Aussies arriving at Wellington feel welcome as she cracked up hosts of The Project
‘We’ve got 4,000 Aussies coming to NZ today and we’re so excited that we’ve made humans dress up as kangaroos to welcome you, we’ve put our dignity aside for you today,’ Ardern said.
She also wore a red poppy pinned to her a dress, which is an Anzac Day tradition in New Zealand and was supported by furry mascots dressed as national animals of both nations – a kangaroo and a Kiwi.
Peter Heliar quizzed Ardern whether she turned up at the airport to greet all tourists and joked about her having a second job as an Uber driver – which she handled comfortably.
‘Yes I have actually welcomed passengers before, NZ likes to provide a very personal service, I’ve even provided rides from the airport before, that’s the intimate welcome that you will get from our country.’
Ardern wasn’t kidding. In 2019 she picked up American television host Stephen Colbert at the airport.
When Waleed Aly wondered what New Zealand has to offer Aussie travellers, whom he claimed prefer destinations with a warmer climate, a cheaper cost of living and ‘lots of alcohol’.
She said New Zealand was very popular with Australians – as 40 per cent of New Zealand’s tourists are actually Aussies.
‘A sure sign of why they come might be the fact that it goes up to 49 per cent during the ski season so you might need to add skiing to your list.’
She also wore a red poppy pinned to her a dress, which is an Anzac Day tradition in New Zealand and was supported by furry mascots dressed as national animals of both nations – a kangaroo and a Kiwi
She also expertly handled a question from Heliar about who she wanted to win the May 21 Australian poll.
‘You are literally our most important relationship and because of that, that means whoever is in the top job on your side of the ditch is whoever I will build a great relationship and I can say that hand on heart.’
Ardern was also asked if she would contribute to Australian tourism by holding her wedding in Queensland.
But she joked that would officially be seen as ‘treason’ in New Zealand.
In January Ardern postponed her wedding to Clarke Gayford as the country ramped up restrictions in response to its Omicron outbreak.
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