Jessica Mutch-McKay: Can National compete with Jacinda Ardern's engagement announcement? (2)

Will a wedding help secure Jacinda Ardern a second term? The Prime Minister confirmed her engagement to long-term partner Clarke Gayford on Friday, after she was spotted wearing an engagement ring. The two have become engaged over the Easter holidays, her office said. TVNZ's political editor Jessica Mutch-McKay told the Weekend Collective that, when the news was released, she felt a bit sorry for opposition leader Simon Bridges. "You just compete with an engagement announcement." She says that Bridges will likely have a "sinking feeling", but his political hopes may depend on when the wedding is held. "If she decides to get married in election year, that's going to be a major distraction." Mutch-McKay says if it was her choice in that position, she would wait until leaving office, as it would put less obligation to include the media and the public. She says that the post-Cabinet press conference tomorrow will reveal the first plans about the wedding. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.