PM says she’s lucky, not a superwoman

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she’s not superwoman – and she worries about other expectant mums feeling the pressure to follow her example.

Ardern is due to give birth to her first child on Sunday. She has vowed to continue to work as prime minister up to the moment she enters Auckland Hospital to give birth.

She plans to hand over the reins to NZ First leader and deputy prime minister Winston Peters, but Ardern told TVNZ’S Q +A programme she was ‘‘desperate’’ not to let the country down – she would stay true to her role as prime minister.

There was nothing to worry about with Peters in charge and she wasn’t relinquishing control completely. If a Labour minister erred, for instance, or major decisions were required, she would expect to be involved.

‘‘I think the thing to keep in mind is I’m not dead; I have not exited from the country; I will just be in Sandringham. And so I’ll be staying in close touch.’’

Ardern admitted she had felt the pressure to be a role model for other women after announcing she was pregnant.

‘‘There are these odd moments where that pressure – I actually tend to ignore that from day to day and just get on with doing the job. But when I get a flurry of text messages from media and the likes because they think they’ve seen a cavalcade heading to Auckland (Hospital), it makes me realise that there’s at least a lot of interest and there’s eyes on it.’’

But she had never wanted to create the impression women should be superhuman or superwoman. She was only able to do what she was doing because she had ‘‘enormous support’’ and was quite privileged.

‘‘I wouldn’t want to be held up as some kind of exemplar because it’s not easy, and I’m lucky.’’

She had seen a ‘‘motherly’’ side to New Zealand after announcing her pregnancy, including messages from complete strangers saying: ‘‘We get it now, but you’re also allowed to sit down,’’ Ardern said.

‘‘And so that sentiment has been lovely. And so I guess my message would be I can assure people I will keep doing my job, but I also acknowledge I’m not superhuman.’’

If Peters is out of the country or cannot fulfil the role for whatever reason, Ardern’s deputy, Kelvin Davis, would be next in line as acting prime minister. Davis has been in hot water with the prime minister lately after a shambolic select committee appearance where he refused to answer questions and put down a female MP by calling her ‘‘hysterical’’.