First wha¯ nau
It was a wait that was more than worth it.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern yesterday gave birth to her first child, a girl.
Ardern and partner Clarke Gayford made the announcement shortly after 6pm yesterday that their girl was born at Auckland City Hospital at 4.45pm, weighing 3.31kg (about 7 pounds, 5 ounces).
The prime minister released a short message thanking hospital staff and well-wishers from New Zealand and around the world.
‘‘Welcome to our village, wee one. Thank you so much for your best wishes and your kindness. We’re all doing really well, thanks to the wonderful team at Auckland City Hospital.
‘‘I’m sure we’re going through all of the emotions new parents go through but, at the same time, feeling so grateful for all the kindness and best wishes from so many people. Thank you,’’ she wrote.
The accompanying picture looked like many others New Zealanders would be familiar with, taken in a hospital room, with equipment in the background – no sign of professional photography and heavy staging, in keeping with the prime minister’s wish for the birth to be as normal as possible.
Of course, that’s easier said than done when you’re the PM, and much of the nation had spent the best part of a day waiting.
That started about 5.50am yesterday when Gayford drove Ardern to the hospital. About 10 hours later, their child was born.
The day was filled with speculation – guessing the baby’s gender, weight and name – the latter of which is still to be announced.
As soon as the official news was out, a flood of congratulations came pouring in.
Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters extended ‘‘very best wishes to all the family at this very happy time’’.
‘‘Like the rest of the country, we welcome the news of the birth of a healthy baby and are naturally delighted for the new parents."
Across the divide, leader of the opposition National’s Simon Bridges, and his wife Natalie, welcomed the new addition.
‘‘Natalie and I are delighted for Jacinda and Clarke. Being parents is a joy and a privilege and we are sure your new arrival will fill your lives with all the happiness our children have ours.’’
Former prime minister Helen Clark wrote on Twitter: ‘‘First and foremost, today is a very happy day in the lives of Jacinda and Clarke as they welcome the arrival of their baby daughter.
‘‘My full congratulations go to both Jacinda and Clarke, and I wish them and their new baby all the best.’’
British Prime Minister Theresa May kept it short and sweet on Twitter: ‘‘Congratulations to @JacindaArdern and @NZClarke on the birth of your little girl.’’
The couple announced at the start of 2018 that they were expecting their first child, due this month.
‘‘We’re both really happy. We wanted a family but weren’t sure it would happen for us, which has made this news unexpected but exciting,’’ Ardern said in a statement at the time.
The prime minister discovered she was pregnant during negotiations to form the country’s coalition Government in October last year. However, she waited until January 19 to share the news with the country.
She plans to take six weeks off work. Ardern and Gayford hope to keep the next few weeks somewhat private with their new little family. The pair plan to share some photographs of their new baby throughout the period the prime minister is on maternity leave – likely via their Instagram accounts.
European trade chief Cecilia Malmstrom has been welcomed to the capital, as international trade and diplomacy circles look to mark the beginning of a free trading relationship between New Zealand and the European Union (EU).
Offering her congratulations to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern – in hospital awaiting the birth of her first child – Malmstrom said she and Trade Minister David Parker were pleased to give birth to the launch of free-trade negotiations.
Malmstrom is one of the most powerful leaders in the European Commission – the body which negotiates trade on behalf of the EU.
Her visit marks the formal launch of talks, with trade negotiation teams from both sides set to start their first round of bargaining in Brussels from July 16 to 20.
At a press conference after their meeting, Malmstrom and Parker said the FTA represented a ‘‘very special opportunity’’.
‘‘Today is an important milestone in EU-New Zealand relations. Together, we can conclude a win-win agreement that offers benefits to business and citizens alike,’’ she said.
‘‘This agreement is an excellent opportunity to set ambitious common rules and shape globalisation, making trade easier while safeguarding sustainable development. We can lead by example.’’
The deal was hoped to stand up as a counter and example of what a ‘‘rules-based’’, progressive trade agreement could look like, particularly in the face of a push towards protectionism from some countries, including the United States.
Agriculture had always been a difficult issue at the end of most negotiations but a compromise had always been found, Malmstrom assured.
Meanwhile, New Zealand was expected to be more closely aligned on the issue of medicine patents with Europe, than it was with the United States during negotiations for the TransPacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), but the issue was likely to be another sticking point at negotiations regardless.
Both sides said it would be carefully talked about.
Parker said the agreement would be held as a guiding example for a new type of trade deal.
‘‘We can not only do good for ourselves in this trade agreement but we can actually set out rules for how trading agreements should look for the betterment of the world.’’
The Government recently launched its ‘‘Trade For All’’ trading agenda, which calls for a ‘‘progressive and inclusive’’ approach to negotiating trade deals.
It sits in line with similar EU policy that seeks to create a new kind of trade deal that takes into account environmental sustainability, inclusiveness for minority and indigenous groups and the protection of human rights.
The Government and the EU have already ruled out the inclusion of any investor state dispute (ISDS) clauses in this deal – a controversial mechanism that allows companies to sue governments over policy changes that may leave them worse off.
While it’s not an uncommon chapter in such agreements, ISDS clauses are rarely used given that there is a highthreshold to pass before it can be triggered.
The EU free-trade deal enjoys cross-parliamentary support. National foreign affairs and trade spokesman Todd McClay said its success would be judged on agricultural access to the European market. ‘‘It is also important that this is a modern, fair and inclusive trade deal.
‘‘To be inclusive, smaller businesses and service providers must benefit from better trade rules, while dairy, beef and lamb exporters must get a much better deal than they currently have.’’
‘‘Today is an important milestone in EU-New Zealand relations.’’ Trade Minister David Parker