'We are all in this together': Jacinda Ardern's UN speech rejects Trump's isolationism

'Our actions have a global effect,' New Zealand leader says

Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand, launched a thinly-veiled swipe at Donald Trump's isolationist rhetoric during her maiden speech at the United Nations.

The 38-year-old opened her national statement with a traditional greeting in the language of the Maori people, New Zealand's indigenous community.

She went on to emphasise the importance of international co-operation, human rights and gender equality.

Mr Trump had stressed the importance of national pride and critiqued globalism in his own address.

Although Ms Ardern did not address him directly, her speech was interpreted as a firm rebuttal of Mr Trump's views.

"We can use the environment to blame nameless, faceless ‘other’, to feed the sense of insecurity, to retreat into greater levels of isolationism," she said.

"Or we can acknowledge the problems we have and seek to fix them."

Ms Ardern also praised the UN and its founding principles.

"Emerging from a catastrophic war, we have collectively established through convention, charters and rules a set of international norms and human rights,” she said.

“All of these are an acknowledgement that we are not isolated, governments do have obligations to their people and each other, and that our actions have a global effect.

“None of these founding principles should be consigned to the history books. In fact, given the challenges we face today, and how truly global they are in their nature and impact, the need for collective action and multilateralism has never been clearer.”

Ms Ardern said the UN could use its power to bring together the international community, before moving on to her own personal pledge to help further gender equality in New Zealand and across the world.

“Me Too must become We Too,” she said. “We are all in this together." Spontaneous applause greeted the end of the speech.

The prime minister's message indirectly rejected Mr Trump's address, which he delivered to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

The US president bragged about his accomplishments in office but was forced to pause after his claims were greeted with laughter from the listening dignitaries.