Jacinda Ardern steps out at Sandringham Street Festival

Name: Jacinda addresses the public after being sworn in at Government House
Uploaded: 2017-10-26T17:22:47+13:00
Description: After being sworn in as the new PM, Jacinda Ardern gives a speech and addressess the public.

NZ Herald

28 Oct, 2017 07:56 AM2 mins to read

After being sworn in as the new PM, Jacinda Ardern gives a speech and addressess the public.

The newly appointed Prime Minister has been on her first public walkabout in Auckland.

Jacinda Ardern and partner Clarke Gayford - wearing Labour red - joined thousands of others at the Sandringham Street Festival today.

The annual community event held at Sandringham Village was a chance for Ardern, who was sworn in as New Zealand's 40th leader on Thursday, to chat and pose for photos with locals.

The 37-year-old grew up in Morrinsville in the Waikato, but now lives with Gayford in the West Auckland suburb of Pt Chevalier, near Sandringham.

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern visiting Sandringham Street Festival today. Photo / Doug Sherring

She became the leader of the Labour Party on August 1 - just seven weeks before the 2017 general election.

The party's popularity jumped about 10 per cent after Ardern assumed leadership from Andrew Little.

Labour won 46 seats in the September 23 election and formed a coalition government with the Green Party and New Zealand First on October 19.

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern visiting Sandringham Street Festival. Photo / Doug Sherring

In her speech at her swearing in ceremony Ardern said a government with her at the helm would be one that is "active, that is focused, that is empathetic and that is strong".

The new administration has also announced it will lift the minimum wage to $20 an hour by April 2021, scrap the 90-day workers' trial, and introduce Fair Pay Agreements to set industry standards for pay and conditions.