Former press secretary releases memoir about Jacinda Ardern years

Andrew Campbell, former chief press secretary for Jacinda Ardern, has released a memoir titled In The Room. The book provides a firsthand account of his time in Parliament during Ardern's term. Campbell served as Ardern's chief press secretary from May 2018 until she left office in 2023.

In the book, Campbell recalls being notified of a mass shooting in Christchurch on March 15, 2019. He describes the moment he received a call from Kathryn Street, the press secretary for Police Minister Stuart Nash, informing him of the shooting. Campbell noted that the severity of the events escalated rapidly as reports emerged of multiple shooters.

He stated that he argued with Ardern in a Crown car, suggesting the government was doing too much and needed to focus on the economy. He suggested that the government should have removed vaccine mandates sooner once the population was largely vaccinated.

The memoir also addresses Campbell's personal struggles with alcoholism. He describes how he was hired by Ardern months after his last drink. Campbell noted that he felt he had swapped one addiction for another, specifically booze for the job.

Compiled from reports by The Press, The Post and 1News.