Jacinda Ardern chats Hobbiton and Trump handshake strategies in entertaining Stephen Colbert The Late Show TV interview

September 27, 2018

Jacinda Ardern is set to appear on the show tomorrow.

Jacinda Ardern has made her first appearance on American TV's The Late Show, with host Stephen Colbert this afternoon, chatting about Donald Trump, Flight of the Conchords and even inviting her host to become an official citizen of Hobbiton.

The Prime Minister was speaking with Colbert as part of her week in New York attending the General Assembly at the United Nations.

"I went in for the natural shake – I have quite a firm handshake," Ms Ardern said, in reference to her brief meeting with the US President.

Mr Colbert said he noticed her direct approach to the gesture, to which she replied: "It's the way we shake in New Zealand."

Mr Colbert then pointed out he could safely call Ms Ardern a Hobbit considering she grew up close to where Lord of the Rings was filmed.

The American host admitted he was a big fan of Hobbiton - a fact the Prime Minister knew and used to her advantage, presenting him with a mug from the tourist location as well as special document - an offer to make him an official citizen of Hobbiton.

"The official calligrapher who did the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit wrote up your official invitation so come to New Zealand and we’ll make the ceremony official."

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The pair finished the interview discussing where Ms Ardern lives now - a Point Chevalier residence in Auckland which used to serve as a pre-school.

"It actually also used to be a training school for dental nurses as well," Ms Ardern said.

"So I now have people visit and they look around and they sort of shudder having relived the experience of having their teeth extracted."

Mr Colbert finished the interview with a gag, saying the White House had once been an ice cream shop.

Ms Ardern's next major appearance in New York will be tomorrow when she addresses the General Assembly at the United Nations.

The show was pre-recorded and will air on US television later this afternoon.

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