By Greg Milam in Christchurch, New Zealand Rarely can a country have unified around a politician in a time of crisis as New Zealanders have around Jacinda Ardern.The Kiwis know their prime minister has become a global symbol of healing in the aftermath of the Christchurch attacks.But just 17 months into her premiership, Ardern is now a figure of hope for a country in strife.

Whatever their political affiliation, New Zealanders are united in respect for her leadership.In gestures big and small, she has demonstrated a human touch to dealing with hatred.When she received a call from Donald Trump, expressing America's support, she told him he could help by expressing "sympathy and love" for Muslim communities.Image:New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern (right) comforts one of the bereavedWhen families of the victims encountered problems, she sped up processing of visas for the overseas relatives and promised funeral costs would be covered by the government.She'll return to Christchurch to face some anger from those families about the delay in releasing the bodies of the dead for burial.

It will be a test of those personal skills she has displayed.Promising gun reform has won praise but delivering on that promise will not be easy in a place with a liberal tradition of gun ownership.She has the public mood with her at the moment.

What happens when the initial shock and pain dies away, and raw politics take overFew would bet against her taking this country in a new direction as a result of what happened in Christchurch on Friday.Her message, in a speech to parliament, was clear."We wish for every member of our communities to feel safe."Safety means being free from fear of violence and free from the fear of sentiments of racism and hate, which creates a place where violence can flourish.

Everyone of us has the power to change that."Social media companies have also been put on notice.

"There is no question that ideas and languages of hate have existed for decades but the tools of organisation are new.

There cannot be a case of all profit and no responsibility."Image:Jacinda Ardern with her baby at the UN General Assembly in New York, 24 September, 2018It was only six months ago that Ardern announced herself on the global stage by appearing at the United Nations General Assembly with her new young baby Neve.It sent a message on the rights of working mothers and equality and marked her out as a politician not bound by the old ways.No leader can want to be tested as she is being now.

But every leader would want to succeed in bringing such unity.