Why New Zealand rejected populist ideas other nations have embraced

Labour's historic win delivered Ardern a second term while voters punished politicians who embraced populism

Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand's Labour prime minister who was returned to power for a second term with a commanding majority, has often been hailed internationally as a foil to global surges in right-wing movements and the rise of strongmen such as Donald Trump and Brazil's leader, Jair Bolsonaro.

But the historic victory of Ardern's centre-left party on polling day - its best result in five decades, winning 64 of parliament's 120 seats - was not the only measure by which New Zealand bucked global trends in its vote. The public also rejected some political hopefuls' rallying cries to populism, conspiracy theories and scepticism about Covid-19.