Jacinda Ardern’s graceful departure is the personification of modern democratic ideals | Van Badham

The New Zealand prime minister's bold and resolute leadership neutralised hoary stereotypes that insisted female power is soft or weak

Jacinda Ardern has resigned as prime minister of New Zealand and will be leaving office on 7 February.

World leadership has rarely seen anything like her. The dignity and integrity of her departure strikes a paradoxically powerful note, especially at a time when political transition in democracies from the United States to Brazil has been marred by violence and insurrection.