Digitally Grown by Dylan Mulder of New Zealand is worn by Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand during the 2022 World of WearableArt Awards at TSB Bank Arena in Wellington. Photo: Getty Images / Hagen Hopkins
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she was happy to support the World of Wearable Arts (WOW) event by modelling a garment at last night's awards show in Wellington.
Ardern surprised the audience by appearing onstage wearing a specially commissioned piece to celebrate the return of the event, after two years of Covid-19 cancellations.
A spokesperson for the prime minister said the event was an important recovery milestone for the arts sector, and Ardern felt privileged to meet designer Dylan Mulder and some of the World of Wearable Arts team.
WOW chief executive David Tingey said he was thrilled to have Ardern involved in the awards show.
"It's been a really tough couple of years, so her appearing was a really significant show of support for us and the wider arts and events industries."
Tingey said the business had bounced back stronger than it was before the pandemic.
The prime minister's involvement in the show was not unprecedented - twenty years ago then-prime minister Helen Clark also appeared on the WOW stage.