A Different Kind of Power
{{Short description|2025 memoir by Jacinda Ardern}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox book
| author = Jacinda Ardern
| isbn = 9781776951277
| pub_date = 3 June 2025
| publisher = Penguin Books
| image = A Different Kind of Power.jpg
}}
A Different Kind of Power is a memoir by Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand from 2017 to 2023. It was published in June 2025.
Development and writing
In June 2023 Ardern signed a deal with Penguin Books for rights to publish the book in Australia and New Zealand. She was initially reluctant to write a memoir.{{Cite news |date=22 January 2025 |title=Former PM Dame Jacinda Ardern’s book, A Different Kind of Power, out in June |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/former-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-announces-book-release-a-different-kind-of-power-out-in-june/2FPTKXXTUJC2HFTVD7NQM5L4ZU/ |access-date=2 June 2025 |work=The New Zealand Herald}} In January 2025 Ardern announced that the memoir would be released in June that year.{{Cite news |date=22 January 2025 |title='Especially in these times': Jacinda Ardern announces memoir with message about kindness and empathy |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360555742/former-prime-minister-jacinda-arderns-memoir-due-out-june-3 |access-date=2 June 2025 |work=Stuff}} The memoir was able to be pre-ordered. She said that it would provide more information about her leadership and her resignation from her role as prime minister in 2023.{{Cite news |date=22 January 2025 |title=Politics of kindness to be tackled in Ardern's tell-all memoir |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/539637/politics-of-kindness-to-be-tackled-in-ardern-s-tell-all-memoir |access-date=2 June 2025 |work=RNZ}} She also said that she attempted to give the reader an idea of what it is like to lead a country, and that the purpose of writing the book was to encourage more people to consider careers in public service, rather than to act as a typical political memoir.{{Cite news |date=1 June 2025 |title=Jacinda Ardern on having imposter syndrome and why 'confidence gaps' can be good for leaders |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-01/jacinda-ardern-on-having-imposter-syndrome/105358244 |access-date=2 June 2025 |work=ABC News}} Ardern read the book aloud for an audio book version of the memoir.{{Cite news |date=1 June 2025 |title=Jacinda Ardern: Why writing her memoir was 'therapy with a deadline' |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/culture/360708095/jacinda-ardern-why-writing-her-memoir-was-therapy-deadline |access-date=2 June 2025 |work=The Post}}
Contents
The memoir is chronological, starting before her time in government, covering topics such as family and school. The moment Ardern accepted her leadership of the Labour Party is about half way through the book. The memoir covers the major events during her term as prime minister, such as the Christchurch mosque shootings, COVID-19 pandemic and 2022 Wellington protest. It also includes more minor events such as being approached by a critic of hers in a public bathroom and the language development of her daughter.{{Cite news |date=2 June 2025 |title=Jacinda Ardern’s memoir and the untold stories from her time as Prime Minister |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/jacinda-arderns-memoir-and-the-untold-stories-from-her-time-as-prime-minister/JAXKH52ZNFHW7LUC3MZAK4Z574/ |access-date=2 June 2025 |work=The New Zealand Herald}} The book also covers the imposter syndrome and "confidence gap" that Ardern experienced and argues that imposter syndrome and confidence gaps can benefit leaders experiencing them.
In the memoir, Ardern revealed that she first seriously considered resigning in late 2022 when a doctor discovered a lump in her breast, due to the possibility that it was cancerous. It was not cancer.{{Cite news |date=2 June 2025 |title=Jacinda Ardern on her cancer scare and a chilling public bathroom encounter |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/06/02/jacinda-ardern-on-her-cancer-scare-and-a-chilling-public-bathroom-encounter/ |access-date=2 June 2025 |work=1News}} Ardern also revealed in the book that she was pregnant during the coalition negotiations.{{Cite news |date=2 June 2025 |title=Jacinda Ardern’s memoir and the untold stories from her time as Prime Minister |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/jacinda-arderns-memoir-and-the-untold-stories-from-her-time-as-prime-minister/JAXKH52ZNFHW7LUC3MZAK4Z574/ |access-date=2 June 2025 |work=The New Zealand Herald}}
See also
- Prime Minister (2025 film), a documentary film about Ardern