New Zealand's former prime minister Jacinda Ardern is writing a book on leadership that would have inspired her "14-year-old self".
Ardern made the announcement on Instagram on Thursday, saying she didn’t want to write a book about her time in politics. Instead, she wanted it to be a book about how "you can be your own kind of leader and still make a difference".
"I didn’t want to write a book that hauled over the internal politics of the last five years, and then someone convinced me that I didn’t have to," she said. "It’s the kind of book that would have made a difference to my 14-year-old self."
Ardern, who turns 43 next month, unexpectedly retired from politics in January after five tumultuous years, saying she no longer had "enough in the tank" to continue.
During her time in office, she won widespread acclaim overseas, although she became increasingly unpopular at home.
Her term included managing the responses to a right-wing terror attack in Christchurch, a deadly volcanic eruption and the Covid-19 pandemic, which shuttered New Zealand's borders for two years.
Ardern was the youngest female leader in history when she took office in 2017 at the age of 37. In 2018, she became only the second world leader to give birth while holding office. Later that year, she brought her infant daughter to the floor of the UN General Assembly in New York.
In her shock resignation speech in January, she alluded to the struggles of managing parenthood and leadership. She told her daughter Neve that she was looking forward to being there when she started school and her partner Clarke Gayford that it was time they got married.
Ardern, who has more than 1.7 million followers on Instagram, is due to take up dual fellowships at Harvard University later this year.
She has also taken on an unpaid role combating online extremism.
This month, Ardern received one of New Zealand's highest honours for her service leading the country through a mass shooting and pandemic. She was made a Dame Grand Companion, meaning people will now call her Dame Jacinda.
There is currently no set release date for her book.
Agencies contributed to this report
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Jacinda Ardern at New Zealand's parliament in 2017 after becoming leader of the Labour party. Getty -
Ms Ardern attends a group photo with other leaders at the 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in Vietnam. AFP -
Former German chancellor Angela Merkel, right, with Ms Ardern in Berlin. Getty -
Ms Ardern and partner Clarke Gayford with their newborn daughter on June 21, 2018, in Auckland. Getty -
Ms Ardern holds her daughter at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit in 2018. AFP -
Ms Ardern addresses the media in 2019, after a right-wing extremist who killed 49 worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch appeared in court. AFP -
She meets members of the Muslim community after the mass shooting at the mosques. EPA -
Burj Khalifa in Dubai is lit up with an image of Ms Ardern, in appreciation of her support for New Zealand's Muslim community. AFP -
She meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2019, in Beijing. Getty -
Ms Ardern gives the UK's Prince William a traditional Maori 'hongi' welcome at the War Memorial Museum in Auckland. AFP -
Ms Ardern speaks during the 74th session of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters, in New York. AFP -
With Finance Minister Grant Robertson, cooking breakfast for the crowds during the Waitangi Day national holiday, on February 6, 2021. Getty Images -
Ms Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison swap football jerseys on May 31, 2021, in Queenstown. Mr Morrison was on a two-day visit to New Zealand, his first overseas visit that year. Getty -
Receiving a dose of the Pfizer Covid vaccine from nurse Gordana Nezich, on July 28, 2021, in Hamilton. Getty -
US President Joe Biden receiveds Ms Ardern in the Oval Office at the White House, on May 31, 2022. The two leaders discussed security and engagement in the Asia Pacific region. AFP -
Ms Ardern with her British counterpart Boris Johnson, as she arrives for a meeting at Downing Street on July 1, 2022, in London. Getty -
Britain's King Charles III speaks with Ms Ardern, as he receives realm prime ministers in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace, on September 17, 2022. PA -
Ms Ardern arrives at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, held at Westminster Abbey, London, on September 19, 2022. PA -
Announcing her resignation in Wellington, on January 19. AFP -
Ms Ardern with partner Mr Gayford after announcing her resignation at War Memorial Hall in Napier. EPA
