Jacinda Adern came to reopen the Trades Hall today, it has been earthquake strengtheneed and had it's yellow sticker removed. The Trades Hall has quite a history with the Trades Hall bombing in 1984. A scruffy old green suitcase exploding and kilkling the caretaker, Ernie Abbott, his dog Patch badly burned but survived.
I was on my crutches sitting opposite the PM with Flo (my dog), Patch has ensured the legacy of dogs at work and Flo is one of many who accompany their owners to work in the building. Jacinda Adern was her usual attentive self toward the speakers and the building, with her korero expressing the values for which she is becoming known, of working together in difference, empathy and an attitude of thoughtful kindness. I'm not sure if it was this thoughtful kindness that led her to heading over to Flo and I once the official speeches were over. Flo never one for aloofness lapped up the PM's attention and I felt a kind of whakama and was struck by this young younger than us anyway) woman's warm demeanor and gentle self assurance. She certainly felt congruent and approachable doing her job with her her whole self present. No stiff and lofty aura to navigate.
We were all a bit fingers and thumbs with the photo phone thing, but as is the culture and adeptness of her generation, grabbed the phone and took the perfect selfie. I was struck with a feeling of capability, humanity and tenacity and felt a hopefulness for the changes that surely need to come in our country to bring about equity and good life in Aotearoa.
コメント