Ockham NZ Books Awards Winner 2026 www.nzbookawards.nz
Mātātuhi Foundation Best First Book Award
E.H. McCormick Prize for General Non-Fiction
The jugdes wrote "Good political memoirs and biographies are rare in New Zealand, but former prime minister Jacinda Ardern’s first book, A Different Kind of Power, is exceptional. A singular figure with both national and global appeal, her time in office was marked by several catastrophic events, including the country’s worst terror attack, the deadly White Island eruption, and the defining pandemic. Ardern’s thoughtful and rewarding account sheds important light on those years, and on a Kiwi childhood that somehow inadvertently prepared her for the rigours of leadership."
From the former prime minister of New Zealand, then the world's youngest female head of government and just the second to give birth in office, comes a deeply personal memoir chronicling her extraordinary rise and offering inspiration to a new generation of leaders.
What if we could redefine leadership? What if kindness came first?
Jacinda Ardern grew up the daughter of a police officer in small-town New Zealand, but as the 40th Prime Minister of her country, she commanded global respect for her empathetic leadership that put people first.
This is the remarkable story of how a Mormon girl plagued by self-doubt made political history and changed our assumptions of what a global leader can be. When Jacinda Ardern became Prime Minister at age thirty-seven, the world took notice. But it was her compassionate yet powerful response to the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, resulting in swift and sweeping gun control laws, that demonstrated her remarkable leadership.
She guided her country through unprecedented challenges-a volcanic eruption, a major biosecurity incursion, and a global pandemic-while advancing visionary new polices to address climate change, reduce child poverty, and secure historic international trade deals. She did all this while juggling first-time motherhood in the public eye.
Ardern exemplifies a new kind of leadership-proving that leaders can be caring, empathetic, and effective. She has become a global icon, and now she is ready to share her story, from the struggles to the surprises, including for the first time the full details of her decision to step down during her sixth year as Prime Minister.
Through her personal experiences and reflections, Jacinda is a model for anyone who has ever doubted themselves, or has aspired to lead with compassion, conviction, and courage. A Different Kind of Power is more than a political memoir; it's an insight into how it feels to lead, ultimately asking- What if you, too, are capable of more than you ever imagined?
Paperback, 352 pages
H: 232mm W: 155mm Spine: 28mm
Weight: 454 grams