The Queen, a rugby coach and the former prime minister all received honours today, but only one of those received criticism that extended well past the job they are known for.
Former prime minister and now Dame Jacinda Ardern took the highest honour given to a New Zealander on King’s Birthday, being named a Dame Grand Companion.
Her damehood has been met with applaud, but an underlying theme of negativity surrounded the news on social media across the country today.
Former prime minister Sir John Key wasn’t surprised to hear the negative feedback as “it comes with the territory”. Speaking from New Delhi, India, Key said he doesn’t remember any negative feedback when he received his knighthood in 2017, but then again he wouldn’t read it.
Ardern joined a long list of former prime ministers to receive the same level of honours.
Key and another former National prime minister, Sir Bill English, received knighthoods. Former Prime minister Helen Clark says former PM Jacinda Ardern received an amount of hatred and vitriol not seen before towards anyone in the role.
Credit: radionz.co.nz
