Jacinda Ardern has written the text book on how to be a prime minister.

Through the dark days, after the horror of the slaughter of Muslim worshippers in two Christchurch mosques, the leader of the New Zealand has behaved in a way that is more than exemplary.

But she hasn’t dealt in fine words and sincere but ultimately meaningless sympathy.

She announced in Parliament this week that all funeral costs would be covered. Visas for anyone overseas wishing to attend funerals would be given priority. Families who, for whatever reason, feel unable to stay in New Zealand following the attack, will be helped with repatriation costs.

Government agencies are setting up in community centres close to the mosques that were attacked and help and advice will be given in languages the affected understand.

I am sorry to say it, but I do not believe the UK government would be this quick and this compassionate.

The other thing that has impressed me enormously is how quick the government has reacted. Gun laws have been changed in less than a week.

Compare that with the USA where mass shootings are almost commonplace and NONE of them EVER have anything to do with guns!

New Zealand is a nation of hunters - one of their less attractive attributes - and there will be some who don't want the law changed but, again different from the USA, this government will put human life and safety before the financial strength of the gun lobbyists.

When we arrived in New Zealand in 1973, it felt like paradise.

One of my earliest observations was that there were very few pure-bred Maori. I had lived all my life in Africa until that point and worked in South Africa. Black and white did not mix socially and, in South Africa, it was even a crime. Inter-racial relationships happened but were kept very secret.

So my first thought was that this wonderful country had no racism.

That was wrong, of course. There always are and always will be people who judge or are judged for their colour or creed.

We lived through a period of some turmoil in New Zealand with the Maori land marches which saw Maori people demanding back land that was theirs by right under the terms of the Waitangi Treaty - the treaty signed between Maori elders and the first white settlers.

It was a difficult time for many and did result in ongoing racial resentment.

But New Zealand did what few have done. A tribunal was set up to examine the treaty and, since then, much of New Zealand way of life is tested against this treaty. Maori as a language is encouraged again and rights have been restored..

Maori rights caused its own brand of resentment at times but I am proud that we brought up two Kiwi kids in a country that is not perfect but is led by people who really care - people like Jacinda Ardern.