Controversial former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is set to receive a global leadership award from the United Nations Foundation, a move that has drawn attention given her contentious handling of the Covid pandemic.

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The annual We The Peoples awards recognise individuals and organisations who demonstrate the values and purposes of the United Nations. Ardern will receive the Champion for Global Change award, which is presented to those who have made a “significant impact on global issues.”

The citation claims Ardern’s leadership was “trailblazing” and “empathetic”, highlighting her work on women’s rights, climate change, and promoting unity and peace.