When Jacinda Ardern and Waleed Aly met for an interview, in the wake of the Christchurch terrorist attack which killed 50 people, they greeted each other with a hug, initiated by the Prime Minister.
In a preview for the interview, which is due to air on Monday, the journalist and politician are seen greeting each other with a handshake, before Jacinda Ardern asks Aly, “Do you mind if I give you a hug?”
“Not at all,” The Project co-host responds.
“I know that might seem strange!” the New Zealand Prime Minister says as the two embrace.
The journalist asks Ardern if becoming a mother to her daughter Neve has influenced her response to the Christchurch terrorist attack.
“Almost certainly,” the mother of one replies in the interview.
“I think it’s hard to sometimes analyse the way that you are changed by parenthood,” she continues, “but you feel it I think in your responses and your empathy.”
Aly also asks the New Zealand politician about her decision to wear a black hijab after the terror attack against the Islamic faith.
“I gave it very little thought, it was so obvious to me that would be the appropriate thing to do,” she replies.
Ardern continues: “So if in wearing the hijab as I did gave them a sense of security to continue to practice their faith then I’m very pleased I did it.”
In the preview for the interview Ardern is seen responding to one of Aly's questions, "I'm completely human in that regard". Since the twin mosque massacre in Christchurch, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been praised internationally for being a human first in her response, and a politician second - a sentiment that seems to be portrayed again in this interview.
Aly's interview with the NZ Prime Minister comes after he delivered a moving monologue on The Project just hours after the Christchurch terrorist attack occurred last Friday.
This is the second Prime Minister Waleed Aly has interviewed this week, after he sat down with Australian PM Scott Morrison for a 30-minute, commercial free chat on Thursday.
This interview will air on The Project on Monday night at 6:30pm.
Top Comments
Sydney Morning Herald, 19/4/2013. Waleed Aly's response to the Boston Marathon bombing. 'Terrorism is a perpetual irritant and whilst it is tragic and emotionally lacerating , it kills relatively few people and is not any kind of existential threat. Perhaps we're learning to avoid being sucked into terrorism's radicalising vortex, where attacks brings over reaction and the violence rapidly escalates'. I wonder if Waleed feels quite the same about terrorism when the perpertrators are not the usual suspect?
I don't know what point you think you're making, but I see nothing wrong with that statement. Terrorism is a perpetual problem, and violent responses to terrorism ie paybacks make it worse. Stuffed if I know what point you are trying to make. But you are failing.
I think that Jacinda Ardern's level of perception and her instincts can definitely be trusted.
I also respect Waleed's judgement and his recent monologue was evidence of his clarity & truthfulness.
These two are great examples of what students can aspire to.
Their critics are the usual & stereo-typical supporters of the far-right with self-serving agendas.
Racism & fascism together with their joyless cynicism over Jacinda & Waleed's true intentions paint a clearer picture of who THEY really are.