Aunty Ardern’s big secret tough to keep
Marie Ardern has been keeping quite a big secret for quite some time.
The country’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern announced Friday morning she and partner Clarke Gayford were expecting a baby happy news they had known since October.
And for Aunty Ardern, Marie, it was news that was increasingly tough to keep to herself.
‘‘Oh you know it’s hard for me
Oh you know it’s hard for me to keep my mouth shut.
Marie Ardern
to keep my mouth shut,’’ the New Plymouth woman said.
‘‘When she called she was as cool as a cucumber, but she’s thrilled. I think it’s great.’’
The PM’s potential for motherhood had been questioned while on the campaign trail - a topic shrugged off as a ‘‘we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it’’ sort of subject.
Now that the bridge is here, it will be the first time a New Zealand prime minister will give birth while maintaining the country’s top seat.
And Aunty Marie thinks it is exactly what New Zealand needs.
‘‘We still have a long way to go for women but we’ve come a long way,’’ she said.
‘‘Just 10 years ago you wouldn’t even think about a prime minister being pregnant.
‘‘And today, everyone is so thrilled for her.’’
And what excites Marie even more is the timing of the news.
‘‘When she found out it was October 13 - my father’s birthday. I always wanted one of my grandchildren to be named Harry after him.’’
Marie believes it will set an example for all women, that women aren’t bound to one role at a time. ‘‘It’s opened up a whole new egg,’’ she said.
‘‘What a great stepping stone,’’ she said.
‘‘The prime minister can show them how to do it, she can - mark my words.’’
On Friday when Clarke and Ardern announced their pregnancy Ardern said they had always wanted a family but weren’t sure it would happen.
‘‘Which has made this news unexpected but exciting,’’ she said in a statement.
The baby is due in June.