Jacinda Ardern named dame for service and leadership in New Zealand.

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been made a Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, one of the country's highest honors, for her service to the nation during some of its greatest challenges. Ardern's time in power was defined by multiple crises, including the Christchurch terrorist attack, a deadly volcanic explosion, and the pandemic. She quickly became a progressive global icon, remembered for her empathy while steering New Zealand through these crises and for taking her baby daughter to the United Nations General Assembly.