In a royal-adjacent development, former Kiwi PM Jacinda Ardern has accepted her nation’s awarding of a new title: Dame Grand Companion Ardern. That’s Dame Ardern for short… The ex-PM was given the honour yesterday as part of Kiwiland’s King’s Birthday Honours in recognition of her service to the country, particularly her leadership during the response to the Christchurch mosque attacks and the pandemic. Ardern was torn over whether to accept the award, saying those events “were about all of us rather than one individual”. But, she says, she accepted the title as “a way to say thank you – to my family, to my colleagues”. Post-politics, Ardern has also taken on a role as a special envoy combatting online extremism and has also accepted 2 fellowships at Harvard.