If there’s one thing we know about New Zealand Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern, it’s that she’s good in a crisis.
On Monday morning, she proved herself once again, when she kept her cool as a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit while she was being interviewed on live television.
“We’re just having a bit of an earthquake here,” Ardern said to Newshub host Ryan Bridge as the screen began to shake.
“Quite a decent shake here. But if you see things moving behind me, the beehive [New Zealand’s parliament house] moves a little more than most.”
She was all smiles as she assessed her shaking surroundings and then continued the interview unfazed as the tremor stopped.
“It’s just stopped. No, we’re fine. I’m not under any hanging lights, I look like I’m in a structurally sound place.”
The tremor lasted for more than 30 seconds and caused some panic in Wellington, with reports of people in offices and homes getting under tables for cover. There have been no reports of significant damage.
As New Zealand journalist Michael Field said, “What’s a Wellington earthquake when, as prime minister, you’ve dealt with a massacre, an eruption and a pandemic….”
You can watch the moment here: