They Are Us: Poetry, Othering, and a National Dialogue

They Are Us: Poetry, Othering, and a National Dialogue

September 2026
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ABSTRACT

What happens when a poem’s closing words are echoed by a prime minister in the wake of national tragedy? This article traces an unlikely convergence between a spoken word performance and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s response to the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks – and the national dialogue her words made possible: one of solidarity, self-examination, and questions of belonging.

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Author: Alina Siegfried

Alina Siegfried is a New Zealand-based leadership coach, author, poet, storyteller, and narrative strategist. Her book A Future Untold: The power of story to transform the world and ourselves examines how narrative underpins our understanding of the societies and systems we live, love, and work within.

Contact: hello@alinasiegfried.com

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