How to watch Prime Minister in New Zealand
Jacinda Ardern’s time as PM of NZ gets the doco treatment.
This acclaimed documentary uses a wealth of archival material to construct a portrait of former New Zealand prime minster Jacinda Adern’s time in office.
How to watch Prime Minister in New Zealand
Prime Minister is now screening exclusively in New Zealand cinemas.
What is Prime Minister about?
Jacinda Adern!
New Zealand’s 40th prime minister is the focus here, in particular her tenure in the top job from 2017 to 2023. Directors Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz have assembled a wealth of footage, including home video shot by Ardern’s husband Clarke Gayford and audio recordings taken from the Political Diaries project of the Alexander Turnbull Library, to create a film that encompasses both Ardern’s political and personal life. It covers such events as the 2019 Whakaari / White Island volcanic eruption; the Covid-19 pandemic, the Christchurch mosque shootings; and, on a much happier note, the birth of Ardern and Gayford’s daughter, Neve, which made her only the second modern head of state to give birth while in office.
The cast of Prime Minister
Jacinda Ardern, as you would expect; Clarke Gayford; and Paddles the cat. This is an archival documentary, for the most part, so you never know who might show up.
Prime Minister trailer
Why we’re excited about Prime Minister
Reviews have been pretty effusive across the board, and the film won the Audience Award for World Cinema Documentary at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival when it premiered in January. Ardern swept into office on a wave of enthusiasm and approval, and left somewhat embattled, so that should be an interesting arc to follow. Definitely one for those interested in politics.
