A video of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visiting a ‘Radha Krishna Temple’ is getting viral on social media.  In the video, the PM can be seen removing her shoes before entering the temple and then participating in the 'Aarti'. The video is being shared with a claim that Jacinda Ardern visited a Hindu temple in New Zealand just after declaring her country corona-free.

A Twitter user name Phenomenal Ajay shared the video with the caption, "The New Zealand PM went to a Hindu temple right after declaring her country Corona-Free. And in our country, some traitors feel threatened by the construction of Ram Mandir". ( Translated from Hindi )

The video of Ardern's visit to the temple is also being shared with the claim that she visited the temple just after the Bhumi Pujan of the Ram temple at Ayodhya on 5 August.

A twitter user name Divya Saxena shares a video with a claim that "On the occasion of Bhoomi Poojan at Ram Janmabhoomi the New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern voluntarily offered prayers at a Hindu temple to show solidarity with India. That's what Modi has done for India".

Fact Check

In our investigation, we found that the viral claim is false. Ardern visited the temple on August 6 ahead of national elections in September in the Country and not because New Zealand has been declared free of COVID.

After doing Google research using related keywords we found various news reports according to which ahead of the national elections scheduled in September, Jacinda Ardern visited a Radha Krishan temple in Auckland on 6 August. The Radha Krishna Temple is a part of Mahatma Gandhi Centre, run by the Auckland Indian Association.

 In a news report of Zee News, we found the exact images of Ardern that match from the viral video.

Pictures from Ardern’s visit were also shared by Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Muktesh Pardeshi “Some precious moments with Hon. PM of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern event on 6 August 2020. ?She paid a short visit to Radha Krishna Mandir and enjoyed a simple Indian vegetarian meal- Puri, Chhole, and Daal,”  Pardeshi tweeted.

In June, New Zealand has lifted almost all of its coronavirus restrictions after reporting no active cases in the country. However, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Tuesday that authorities have found four cases of the coronavirus in one Auckland household from an unknown source, the first cases of local transmission in the country in 102 days.

In conclusion, the viral claim is false that New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visited a temple just after declaring the country coronavirus-free. Jacinda Ardern visited a temple in Auckland on August 6 ahead of national elections scheduled in September and not because New Zealand has been declared free of COVID.