FTA: Unlike many other world leaders, Ardern is open about the fact that she is not religious. In an interview with the New Zealand Herald in January of 2017, she explained,
I can’t see myself being a member of an organized religion again. I have a real respect for people who have religion as a foundation in their lives. And I respect people who don’t. I’m agnostic. I don’t spend a lot of time trying to figure it out. I just think people should be free to have their personal beliefs and not be persecuted for it, whether they be atheist or staunch church members.
As Jacinda says, she's an agnostic. Humanist as in "humane", yes; she had a scientific background at school; as an adult volunteered at soup kitchens and the like, including in New York City. She is so much of an empath she went around with a face like a wet week with sleet for two weeks after the mass-murder of her adopted people (note the hihab pose in the photo that has become iconic -- looking like a suffering saint). Being only 38 there is this generational thing too. Primary school teachers of her age tell kids encouraging tiny-steps things like "Your idea was absolutely brilliant, only your execution needs work." (as if actually getting things completed is an unexpected bonus). And she does the same with her people, even her political enemies in the House -- she relies her own charm plus a few head-banging older male allies to get things done in terms of policy. Politically, she has described herself as a socialist. I have unfairly joked about her that she thinks it means she socialises a lot -- which she does. I've seen her in action up close a couple of times -- very warm-hearted and prone to the generous gesture without any deep thinking to go with it; e.g. wearing the hijab "in sympathy" without thinking about what a symbol of oppression it is for tens of millions of Muslim women in sharia states.