David Ross Ardern (born 28 February 1954) is a New Zealand diplomat and former police officer. He was the

Administrator Administrator or admin may refer to: Job roles Computing and internet * Database administrator, a person who is responsible for the environmental aspects of a database * Forum administrator, one who oversees discussions on an Internet forum * N ...

Tokelau Tokelau (; ; known previously as the Union Islands, and, until 1976, known officially as the Tokelau Islands) is a dependent territory of New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean. It consists of three tropical coral atolls: Atafu, Nukunonu, an ...

from 2018 to 2022, having previously served as the High Commissioner of New Zealand to

Niue Niue is a self-governing island country in free association with New Zealand. It is situated in the South Pacific Ocean and is part of Polynesia, and predominantly inhabited by Polynesians. One of the world's largest coral islands, Niue is c ...

from 2014 to 2018, and as Niue's police commissioner from 2005 to 2009.

Biography

Ardern joined the New Zealand Police in 1974, initially training at the Royal New Zealand Police College at Trentham, and was one of the police officers who carried out the Dawn Raids on Pacific Island families in the 1970s. In his 40-year police career he spent about 20 years in the Criminal Investigation Branch and five years as Matamata–Piako area sub-commander. In 2002 Ardern received a Commissioner's Commendation for his work in the line of duty while investigating a robbery, kidnapping and sexual assault case in 1999. He successfully negotiated for three hours with a man armed with a

machete A machete (; ) is a broad blade used either as an agricultural implement similar to an axe, or in combat like a long-bladed knife. The blade is typically long and usually under thick. In the Spanish language, the word is possibly a dimin ...

. Ardern was appointed Commissioner of Police for the Pacific island of Niue in 2005 for a two-year term, which was extended to four years. During this time he was chair of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police for one year. He also served as Niue's director of prisons and director of immigration. Ardern served as New Zealand Police liaison officer for the South Pacific, based in Samoa, from 2009 to 2013. In October 2013, Ardern was named by Minister of Foreign Affairs

Murray McCully Murray Stuart McCully (born 19 February 1953) is a New Zealand former politician. He is a member of the National Party, and served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2017. Early life Born in Whangārei, McCully was educated at Arap ...

as the next High Commissioner of New Zealand to Niue. He took up the post in February 2014. On 15 December 2017, the Minister of Foreign Affairs,

Winston Peters Winston Raymond Peters (born 11 April 1945) is a New Zealand politician. He has led the political party New Zealand First since he founded it in 1993, and since November 2023 has served as the 25th Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand), ...

, announced that Ardern would be the next

, from early 2018. Ardern is the father of the former New Zealand Prime Minister,

Jacinda Ardern Dame Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern ( ; born 26 July 1980) is a New Zealand politician and activist who was the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, leader of the Labour Party from 2017 to 2023. She was ...

. He is a practising member of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...

(LDS Church). His twin brother, Ian, is a general authority of the LDS Church.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ardern, Ross New Zealand people of English descent 1954 births Living people New Zealand Latter Day Saints New Zealand police officers Administrators of Tokelau High commissioners of New Zealand to Niue Parents of prime ministers of New Zealand Chiefs of police People educated at Royal New Zealand Police College