New Zealand has awarded Jacinda Ardern one of the country's highest honors, honoring the former prime minister for her service to the country during the Covid pandemic and the Christchurch terror attacks, reports "The Guardian".

Ardern accepted the honor but said she felt conflicted about it. "I was in two minds about accepting this recognition. "So much of what we've been through as a nation in the last five years has been about all of us, not about one individual," she said.

“But I've heard it said by so many people I've encouraged to accept the honor over the years. And so for me this is a way of saying thank you – to my family, to my colleagues and to the people who have supported me in taking on the most challenging and rewarding role of my life,” added Ardern.

The former leader's tenure was marked by a series of national and international crises, and Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the recognition was for her leadership during these "periods of intense challenge". In particular, she recognized her response after a gunman killed 50 Muslims praying at a mosque in Christchurch, and her handling of the pandemic, which saw New Zealand achieve very high vaccination rates and some of the lowest excess mortality rates in the world.

"Dame Jacinda Ardern has been recognized for her service to New Zealand during some of the greatest challenges our country has faced in modern times," Hipkins said.