Is Jacinda Ardern's short sharp goodbye a template or a telling sign of the times?

Jacinda Ardern has trod the halls of Wellington's parliamentary buildings since 2008, when she was first elected MP. The Beehive, Parliament House and the Parliamentary Library. Photo by Koon Chakhatrakan on Unsplash

There are two ways to look at Jacinda Ardern’s tearful announcement that she did not feel emotionally equipped to continue as prime minister of New Zealand: as an excellent template for political exits or a telling sign of the problems faced by female leaders.

In 2017, Ms Ardern became the youngest female head of government, aged just 37 years. Six years on, she is unwilling to seek a re-election or even to complete her second term in office. She will leave office by February 7, she tearfully told her Labour Party on January 18. And she will remain in parliament only until April.

What does it all mean?

Is Ms Ardern jumping before she is pushed? Is she powerful in her pusillanimity? Labour is trailing in the opinion polls and the October general election may have been a challe…