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Date: October 28, 2020 06:43AM
https://i.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/122981053/superkiwisocialisticempireofjacinda-jacinda-ardern-puppet-appears-as-mary-poppins-fighting-covid19-on-uk-satire-spitting-imageJacinda Ardern puppet appears as Mary Poppins fighting Covid-19 on UK satire Spitting Image
13:48, Oct 05 2020
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has appeared as Mary Poppins in an episode of UK puppet satire Spitting Image.
The caricature puppet version of Ardern was part of a sketch that mocked the New Zealand approach to fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
When asked about the skit with an unflattering puppet at a press conference, Ardern chuckled. “I am familiar with the show,” she said.
“I’m glad I whipped Neve away from watching it near the end there,” Ardern said.
“I was surprised by the emphasis on the Ginger Crunch,” she added, a reference to the iconic New Zealand cake that got a mention in the skit.
In the sketch, two people are sat outside a cafe, praising the freedoms currently experienced by New Zealanders compared to the rest of the world.
"What a fantastic day in New Zealand - meat pies, a ginger crunch and a positive balance of trade with China,” one says, before another replies “I know, but sometimes I think things here could be more fantastic.”
Then, appearing across Auckland’s skyline and flying past the Sky Tower, is a Mary Poppins-like figure.
As the figure lands in front of the cafe, the Ardern-puppet says “Kia ora, children. What healthful weather we are having. Not a spit-spot of virus to be seen."
"Why Jacinda Ardern, are you boasting?" a sheep attached to her umbrella asks.
"Practically perfect people never boast," the puppet Ardern replies, before adding "We just get re-elected forever.”
Then the sketch turns into a song, riffing on the famous Mary Poppins’ tune Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious entitled “Super-Kiwi-socialistic-empire-of-Jacinda.
"In a world of strong men a nice lady came along, I'm kind and young and kind and smart, and good and kind and young," the song begins
"When I became New Zealand's boss I knew just what to do, initiate a nanny state and turn our grey skies blue."
The party is spoiled by the entrance of a man who coughs, catching the attention of the Prime Minister.
"Do you know how hard it is to quarantine a country of two small islands with low population and a wealth of natural resources that renders us completely self-sufficient?" Ardern asks the visitor, before taking out a sword and chopping his head off.
"I am delighted to announce no new cases of coronavirus," the Prime Minister declares as the man's head drops to the ground and the dancing continues.