Jacinda Ardern documentary wins Emmy Award

A documentary about former prime minister Jacinda Ardern has won an Emmy Award, capping a strong run on the international festival and awards circuit.

The film draws on footage recorded across her time in office, including the periods around the Christchurch terror attack, the Whakaari eruption and the pandemic response.

Its access is the central asset: material shot behind closed doors gives the film a texture that retrospective interviews alone could not achieve.

The award places the production alongside a small group of New Zealand documentaries to be recognised at that level, and is likely to widen its international audience further.

For the filmmakers, the recognition also validates a long production timeline built around events no one could have scripted in advance.