Deputy mayor Melissa Matters, New Zealand’s longest-serving female politician Dame Annette King, former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern and Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald in Gerringong on Saturday. Photo: Supplied.
It wasn’t on the official program, but one of the world’s most recognisable political leaders was quietly browsing a community expo in Gerringong on the weekend.
Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern’s low-key visit caught Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald by surprise — and turned a casual Saturday morning into what he described as “a real thrill”.
Cr McDonald said he was at the Gerringong Community Expo @ GLAM held at the Gerringong Library and Museum, where 25 community groups and service providers were showcased, when he was told the former prime minister was in the room.
“I walked in there just to see what was going on on Saturday morning, so I wasn’t there in any official capacity,” he said.
“Someone said, ‘The ex-prime minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, is over there’. I saw her and thought, my God, it is.”
Determined not to miss the opportunity, Cr McDonald went straight over to introduce himself.
“I just walked over and said, ‘It’s a real thrill to meet you. I think New Zealand was very lucky to have you as a prime minister,’” he said.
Cr McDonald told Ardern how much he admired her leadership through some of New Zealand’s most challenging moments.
“I said, ‘What you did in that time during COVID and the Christchurch mosque attacks was just phenomenal and I think you’re a role model for women everywhere,’” he said.
Ardern was in Gerringong with New Zealand’s former deputy leader and her close friend and mentor Dame Annette King, whom she introduced to him as “the longest-serving female MP from New Zealand”.
Dame Annette has family ties to Gerringong, with a niece living in the town and being the reason for their private and low-key trip.
“I don’t think it was for anything particularly special,” he said.
“It was just Annette coming out to visit family, and Jacinda must have come along for the ride as a friend.”
Ardern’s young daughter was also present.
Cr McDonald said Ardern and Dame Annette were impressed by Gerringong and the Kiama area, praising the scenery and landscape.
“I made the comment that it’s probably as close to feeling like you’re in New Zealand in Australia, with our green rolling hills and dairy country,” he said.
“She said, ‘Yes, it’s very beautiful.'”
The mayor said having a figure of Ardern’s international standing choose Gerringong as a place to relax was a strong endorsement of the region.
Cr McDonald said what impressed him most throughout her political career was “her compassion, humility and good grace”.
“There aren’t many people who I think are world leaders who can keep those personal traits and values and live by them,” he said.
“I have had so much respect for her over the years.
“If you’re going to list the five people you’d want to meet in your lifetime, I reckon she’d be one of them.”
He also reflected on Ardern’s decision to step down as prime minister in 2023 and not seek re-election due to a lack of “enough in the tank”, describing it as a brave and honest move.
“For me, that’s a brave move – just saying, ‘Look, I can’t offer what I need to offer to the role,’” he said.
Cr McDonald said he spoke to her about her upcoming book, a guide for teens on chasing their dreams and embracing the unexpected qualities that make a person strong on the back of her being one of the youngest people in the world leading a country.
“It’s for teenagers and comes out this year, but it’s basically a view of politics for teenagers,” he said.
“I think that’ll be quite interesting when she releases that.”
He said he told Ardern he had two teenage daughters and considered her “the best role model for young girls, without a doubt”.
For Cr McDonald, the chance meeting in Gerringong with a leader he has long admired was more than just a brush with fame.
“It was a real thrill – really special,” he said. “And it’s pretty amazing that she came down here and expressed how they really thought our region was beautiful.”
