Baby’s birth launches ‘modern family’ story
‘‘It’s caught the imagination, in New Zealand, and globally. It’s inspirational for younger women and men ... It’s a story for men and women, this story; a very human story.’’ Former prime minister Helen Clark
Former prime minister Helen Clark says the birth of Jacinda Ardern’s baby is ‘‘a very human story’’, for both men and women.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her partner Clarke Gayford welcomed their first child on Thursday.
The baby girl was born at Auckland City Hospital at 4.45pm, weighing 3.31kg (7 pounds, 5 ounces).
Clark, who was also Ardern’s mentor and former boss, said the ‘‘first family’’ was making ‘‘a very powerful statement’’.
The couple did not set out to make a statement – in fact, the birth was unexpected – but the birth was ‘‘very significant, because of the message it’s sending about the modern family’’.
Mothers could have top careers and still be mums, and dads could have a career in the fastlane, and be stay-at-home dads for a while.
‘‘This is a very modern family story. And I think that’s why it’s touched people in New Zealand; it’s touched people globally.
‘‘For younger men and women, these two are very, very powerful role models,’’ Clark said.
While Ardern was sending a significant message about breaking down barriers, Gayford was also a ‘‘pace-setter’’, she said.
‘‘While we all know young men who’ve taken parental leave, it’s not so common.
‘‘And here he is, as the kind of first husband, saying: I’m going to do this, I’m going to support Jacinda, her job’s important to me, it’s important to the country, so I’m going to do this.
‘‘I think this is why it’s caught the imagination, in New Zealand, and globally.
‘‘It’s inspirational for younger women and men ... It’s a story for men and women, this story; a very human story.’’
New Zealand liked its self-image as a progressive country, and generally having three female prime ministers, as well as female governors-general, and chief justices, was seen as a positive thing.
In 1981, when Clark ran for the Mt Albert seat, she was told not being married to her now-husband Peter Davis would be an issue.
‘‘The thought in 1981, that you could be prime minister at 37, and unmarried, and having a baby. People would have said: are you crazy?
‘‘And what I think is wonderful about New Zealand, is we do move with the times ... We have moved with the times; these things are possible, and I think that’s something to celebrate.’’
When Jenny Shipley and Clark became prime ministers, it set a powerful image for young girls and women, that the top jobs were not closed to them.
‘‘Now Jacinda’s statement goes a step further, because she’s a generation younger than we were when we became prime minister.’’
Ardern was telling the world she could be a mother and the prime minister, and that was very powerful.
‘‘She may be the first in [28 years] since Benazir Bhutto, but it ain’t gonna be the last.
‘‘And she will have played a significant role in breaking through that barrier.’’
Ardern was one of only 6 per cent of heads of government who were female.
But as that critical mass rose, hopefully, women who were in shooting distance of the top roles would know they could do both – enjoy their family and chase the big post, Clark said.
‘‘That’s why the example she’s set is so important.’’
Clark said the birth of her baby would help support Ardern’s political image as an approachable person.
‘‘Jacinda has done very, very well because she is so empathetic; people warm to her; they want to touch her; they want to hug her.
‘‘She’s very much an engaged and empathetic person.
‘‘And what we’ve seen through this pregnancy and now the birth of the baby – that image of Jacinda as empathetic, a nice person, someone you want to know, that can only be consolidated by this.
‘‘So good luck to her.’’
It would also likely raise issues around social policies, and supports, available for other Kiwi women who also wanted the choice to have a career and be a mother.
‘‘I think what Jacinda would want is for every woman to feel that they could make this choice.
‘‘And in New Zealand we can make the choice, but let’s face it, if you’re prime minister, you’re in a more privileged position than the woman on the factory floor.
‘‘So the aim has to be for every woman to have a valid choice, as to whether or not to combine work and family,’’ Clark said.
Ardern is the second head of government to give birth while in office. The first was Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 1990.
Bhutto’s 28-year-old daughter, Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari, congratulated Ardern and Gayford on their arrival via Twitter.