May 25, 2020 - World

New Zealand PM stays calm on live TV as earthquake strikes

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during a press conference at the Beehive Theatrette, Parliament, in Wellington, New Zealand on Wednesday. Photo: Kevin Stent - Pool/Getty Images

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck just north of Wellington as New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gave a live breakfast TV interview from the capital on Monday morning local time.

The big picture: But showing the kind of leadership she's won international plaudits for, Ardern remained unfazed, saying: "We're just having a bit of an earthquake here. ... Quite a decent shake." 37,000 people reported via monitoring agency GeoNet's app feeling the quake hit the central North Island. "We're fine Ryan," Ardern told the Auckland-based Newshub host Ryan Bridge afterward. "I'm not under any hanging lights, I look like I'm in a structurally sound place."

Watch the clip below:

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more details on the quake.

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