History-making New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern brings baby to UN assembly

The Kiwi PM is only the second ever world leader to give birth while in office. She's also the first female world leader to bring an infant to the UN meeting in New York.

Jacinda Ardern.

Jacinda Ardern. Source: AFP

New Zealand's prime minister, who shot to international fame for giving birth while in office, turned heads by bringing her three-month-old daughter into the UN assembly hall.

Jacinda Ardern, 38, is only the second world leader to ever give birth while in the office.

The first was the late Benazir Bhutto, who was prime minister of Pakistan when her daughter was born in 1990.

Jacinda Ardern is the first female national head to bring her baby with her to the UN.
Jacinda Ardern is the first female national head to bring her baby with her to the UN. Source: AFP


The premier was photographed kissing and bouncing up and down daughter Neve in the main assembly hall next to partner Clarke Gayford, at a plenary meeting known as the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, which she also addressed.

Gayford, who is a television fishing show host and who plans to be the main caregiver for their daughter, tweeted a picture of the infant's UN diplomatic photo ID that classified her as "New Zealand first baby".

NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern holds her daughter Neve after addressing the UN.
NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern holds her daughter Neve after addressing the UN. Source: AAP


"I wish I could have captured the startled look on a Japanese delegation inside UN yesterday who walked into a meeting room in the middle of a nappy change. Great yarn for her 21st," he wrote.

Ardern became prime minister in October just three months after taking charge of the Labour Party as it languished in the polls.

She returned to work last month after a six-week maternity leave.

She had already announced that they would travel as a family to the United Nations in New York, where she will address the General Assembly.

Earlier on Monday, she spoke at the launch of the annual "Climate Week" event.

Pregnancy, motherhood and her coalition government have turned her into a poster child for feminism against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement in the United States, where she is taking part in a series of media appearances.

New Zealand won't be joining Australia in refusing to sign a non-binding United Nations migration agreement, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.
New Zealand won't be joining Australia in refusing to sign a non-binding United Nations migration agreement, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. Source: AAP





"It felt at the time on par I have to say!" she joked on The Today Show, the flagship morning program on NBC News, when asked what was harder - taking a three-month-old on a 17-hour flight or running the country.

Mum and bub share a cuddle after the NZ PM addressed the meeting.
Mum and bub share a cuddle after the NZ PM addressed the meeting. Source: AFP


Pregnancy, motherhood and her coalition government have turned her into a poster child for feminism against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement in the United States, where she is taking part in a series of media appearances.

Dad on duty:  Clarke Gayford, partner of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, carries their daughter Neve.
Dad on duty: Clarke Gayford, partner of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, carries their daughter Neve. Source: AAP





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2 min read
Published 25 September 2018 10:48am
Updated 25 September 2018 4:05pm
Source: AFP, SBS


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