New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern

A year after pulling off a shock victory to become prime minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern has achieved near-celebrity status where she has been labeled "anti-Trump" for women's rights, free trade and multilateralism.

The 38-year-old, who became the first female leader since Benazir Bhutto in 1990 to have a baby in office, remains popular at home, where she is tackling inequality and promoting a kinder brand of politics.

But as she marks her first anniversary, she can not afford to be complacent because of the high expectations raised by her coalition. "They may have over-promised," said Raymond Miller, emeritus professor at Auckland University, who refers to the pledge to tackle child poverty and housing crisis.

New Zealand's rapid-fire, three-year-old electoral cycle leaves little scope to deliver signs of impatience.

Over recent months teachers and nurses held their first nationwide strides in a decade of homelessness. A new tax on fuel imposed by the government has a hand in the opposition National party has a populist target.

The cabinet has had political casualties, with two Labor Party Ministers resigning over unrelated controversies. Winston Peters, deputy prime minister and leader of the New Zealand First Party, a coalition partner, has too much influence over policy.

"Grant Robertson, the finance minister, said," It's never an easy ride in government but we feel very positive about what we've achieved in our first year. "

He points to the coalition's "families" package "- a five-year NZ $ 5.5bn (US $ 3.6bn) program of tax credits and targeted payments to families on lower incomes – as a big success. It plans to lift almost 100,000 children out of poverty, one of the main themes of the Ardern Government.

Critics say progress has been slowed down, and some complain about the administration's approach to the future.

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"Bryce Edwards at Victoria University in Wellington," said Bryce Edwards. "There is a sense of government may be more cautious and conservative than its supporters expected."

Mr Robertson rejected this criticism, saying big investments in transport infrastructure and housing – the coalition plans to build 100,000 affordable homes in a decade – will change people's lives. He also emphasized the coalition's prudent management of the nation's finances, noting that the government delivered a $ 5.5bn budget surplus in 2017-18, almost twice previous forecasts made in May.

The Labor-led coalition inherited an economy in good shape after a decade of National-led coalitions, with growth of 2.7 percent in the year to the end of June. Business goal sentiment hit a 10-year low in July.

"I'd give the coalition an A grade for aspiration due to their ambitious reform agenda," said Cameron Bagrie, founder of Bagrie Economics.

"But the problem is they have not got an economic plan in place yet. So they have gone out of their way to various industries but not yet opened up growth opportunities in new sectors. They could hit a growth pothole down the track. "

But Ms Ardern's brand of progressive politics Māori and offering to resettle refugees marooned on the tiny Pacific island of Nauru by the Australian government, has proved popular.

An opinion poll in August showed Ms Ardern (at 40 per cent) holding a commanding lead over her rival hand, the National Party leader Simon Bridges (at 10 per cent) in favor of preferred prime minister. However, the National Party held a slender lead over Labor, highlighting the continued vulnerability of the coalition.

A political donation scandal last week, involving a Chinese businessman and Mr Bridges, Ms Ardern's chief rival and the National party.

"This is corrosive for the opposition and the National Party, which has traditionally associated with good morale and family values," said Mr Edwards. "It stands in stark contrast to Ardern, who is now seen as an icon of good family values."