Ardern became a list MP in 2008 , a position she held for almost ten years until her election to the Mount Albert electorate in the 2017 by-election , held on 25 February . She was unanimously elected as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party on 1 March 2017 , following the resignation of Annette King . Ardern became Leader of the Labour Party on 1 August 2017 , after Andrew Little resigned from the position following a historically low poll result for the party . She is credited with increasing her party 's rating in opinion polls . In the general election of 23 September 2017 , the Labour Party won 46 seats ( a net gain of 14 ) , putting it behind the National Party , which won 56 seats . After negotiations with National and Labour , the New Zealand First party chose to enter into a minority coalition government with Labour , supported by the Greens , with Ardern as Prime Minister . Ardern 's government has focused particularly on the New Zealand housing crisis , child poverty , and social inequality . In March 2019 , she led the country through the aftermath of the Christchurch mosque shootings , and her government introduced strict gun laws in response
Christchurch mosque shootings
Christchurch mosque shootings
Jacinda Ardern