Wellington - New Zealand's first woman Prime Minister, Ms Jenny Shipley, took office yesterday and pledged to bring special skills to the job. Ms Shipley was officially sworn in yes terday, taking over from Mr Jim Bolger as leader of the twoparty centre-right coalition. "It seems to me that women and men, when they work together, are extremely effective, and I hope that by my leadership . . . we may see things done differently," Ms Shipley told a news conference. "I do also think that being a woman leader may well help to raise the aspirations of younger New Zealanders." She added: "And if in taking up this role I encourage other younger women in particular to consider doing things which up until now they may not have thought of doing, then I will be very satisfied."
In a ceremony at Wellington's Government House, the Governor-General signed a warrant appointing Ms Shipley shortly after accepting Mr Bolger's resignation. Mr Bolger stood down after seven years at the helm, having run three different governments built around the conservative National Party.