By RNZ Life reporters of RNZ
A documentary about former New Zealand Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern has won the prize for best documentary at the 2026 News & Documentary Emmy Awards.
The production also took home the award for outstanding politics and government documentary at Thursday’s event in the United States, Variety reports.
Prime Minister follows the story of how the world’s then-youngest female head of government balanced motherhood with leadership, and navigated crises such as the Covid-19 lockdowns and the Christchurch terror attack.
The documentary was co-directed by Auckland-based filmmaker Michelle Walshe and American Lindsay Utz. It had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award for World Cinema Documentary.
To take out the top prize at the specialist Emmy Awards, Prime Minister beat Black Snow, Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time, Life After, 2000 Meters to Andriivka, Turning Point: The Vietnam War and Union.
The film also won the award for outstanding politics and government documentary. Photo / Universal Pictures Content Group
The film features home videos shot by Ardern’s husband, Clarke Gayford, and previously unheard audio clips recorded by the Alexander Turnbull Library’s Political Diaries project.
When the film was nominated in early April, Gayford shared a video to social media saying how the film captured some of the toughest times in their lives.
“It was awful in places,” he said.
“For one reason or another, I decided to pick up a camera, and film parts of it.”
When the film premiered at Sundance, reviews were mixed.
Prime Minister won a prestigious award at Sundance Film Festival. Photo / Magnolia Pictures
Ardern spoke during an interview for the Sundance Film Festival shortly after she saw the film for the first time.
“I cried through most of it, and I’m not sure if that’s equivalent to laughing at your own jokes. I was very emotional watching it.
“I credit the storytellers for it. I hoped that the film would humanise politicians, those who are public servants, and leadership, but I never thought it would humanise me. When I watched it, I just saw myself as someone who was trying to do their best.”
Since she stepped down as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party in 2023, Ardern has been appointed to fellowships at Harvard University. She and her family are now based in Australia.
- RNZ
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