Congratulations to Jacinda Ardern

The Standard reports that Labour’s Jacinda Ardern has been elected President of the International Union of Socialist Youth.  That’s a great achievement. Jacinda is a former staffer in Helen Clark’s office and while I have never met her, I have often heard Labourites rave about how great she is

New Zealand does quite well on the international youth politics front.  Another kiwi, Shane Frith, served a couple of terms as Chairman of the International Young Democrat Union.

A few years ago Jacinda and I were both due to travel to Beijing to attend a meeting of a UN group on youth unemployment (I was representing IYDU) but sadly Jacinda had to pull out at the last minute.  It would have been useful having another kiwi there as I had my wallet stolen the day I was due to leave.