'I felt privileged to wear it'- PM Jacinda Ardern thanks korowai's owner after fantastic international reception at CHOGM

April 21, 2018

Ms Ardern said she received numerous questions about the cloak, its origins and its significance.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has met with the woman who loaned her the beautiful korowai cloak, which has struck a chord both in New Zealand and overseas. 

Whaea Esther Jessop, a senior member of Ngati Ranana London Maori Club, loaned the traditional cloak to Ms Ardern for the Queen's Commonwealth Head's of Government dinner.

A post from the NZ High Commission showed a picture of Ms Ardern with Whaea Esther.

The group is celebrating its 60th year of bringing Māori culture to London.

Ms Ardern spoke a little of the cloak's back story in an interview after the banquet at Buckingham Palace. 

"I felt privileged to wear it," she said.

Earlier today the Prime Minister met with Queen Elizabeth.

The expectant mother said the korowai sparked a lot of interest at the dinner, where she was invited to toast the Commonwealth.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern met the Queen in London, and delivered a toast to Commonwealth leaders.

Earlier on in her trip, Ms Ardern said she felt "exceptionally lucky" when she and her partner Clarke Gayford were one of four leaders to have a private sit down with the queen. 

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