Ardern took £40,000 flight to be with baby

Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, has defended taking a £40,000 flight to reduce time away from her 11-week-old daughter Neve.

Ms Ardern, who is still breastfeeding, flew on the New Zealand air force’s Boeing 757 to the three-day Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru for just one day. Some commentators accused Ms Ardern of being wasteful.

But Ms Ardern said she was unable to travel with Neve because she is too young for the necessary vaccinations.