Former NZ PM Jacinda Ardern accepts Harvard fellowships

WELLINGTON Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern said on Wednesday that she was taking up three fellowships at Harvard University later in 2023.

Ms Ardern stepped down as prime minister in January

saying she had “no more in the tank” to lead the country and would also not seek re-election to Parliament. She quit Parliament earlier in April.

Harvard University said in a statement that she had been appointed to dual fellowships at Harvard Kennedy School and to a concurrent fellowship at the Berkman Klein Centre.

“I am incredibly humbled to be joining Harvard University as a fellow – not only will it give me the opportunity to share my experience with others, it will give me a chance to learn,” Ms Ardern said in the statement.

She added on Instagram that the fellowship at the Berkman Klein Centre would not only be a chance to work collaboratively with the centre’s research community, but also to work on the challenges around the growth of generative artificial intelligence tools.

Ms Ardern has previously said she will continue to help tackle violent extremism online as an unpaid special envoy for the Christchurch Call. The Christchurch Call is an initiative she co-founded in 2019 to bring together countries and technology companies to combat extremism.

She will also join the board of Prince William’s Earthshot Prize, awarded for contributions to the environment. REUTERS