WELLINGTON: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed Thursday she paid for a harried mother’s groceries in a gesture sure to enhance a reputation already soaring because of her response to the Christchurch mosque attacks. Ardern was reluctant to discuss the incident, revealed on social media, involving a mother-oftwo who was ahead of the prime minister at a supermarket checkout when she realised she did not have her purse.
“(Ardern) paid for my friends’ shopping in the supermarket the other day when she had forgotten her purse and had two screaming kids in tow,” Twitter user Helen Burness posted, adding: “like we didn’t love her enough”. Ardern swiftly wrapped up a media appearance Thursday when asked why she had helped the woman, replying only, “because she was a mum”.
