September
Month three of her short life was an eventful one for the First Baby of New Zealand. Neve became the star of a new book Shhh! Don’t Wake the Baby which showed all was well and quiet until crowds of sports fans, paparazzi, politicians, farmyard animals and native birds paid a visit. She also went backstage before popstar Pink’s Auckland concert. The exclusive encounter included the singer’s husband and her two children, aged 1 and 7. Pink’s daughter tried to entice Neve’s attention with a bright pink ball. On September 19, Neve was in a photo of 40 female politicians as they re-enacted a 1905 image, which featured only male lawmakers, as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of New Zealand becoming the first country to give women the right to vote. Near the end of the month, Neve and her dad joined Ardern in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The three-month-old got a front-row seat when the Prime Minister delivered her speech for the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit. UN staff made Neve her own ID, and she wore a UN onesie. In one quirky moment a Japanese delegation walked in while Gayford was changing her nappy. The little girl was determined to keep to NZ time, staying up late with her dad watching TV. The pair were “busted” by the Prime Minister when she came out at 2am and discovered them “watching cage fighting in our underpants”. Among the world leaders Neve met was the Fiji PM Frank Bainimarama. She also met Catwoman, aka Anne Hathaway, a goodwill ambassador for UN Women. Hathaway, who met Ardern to discuss pay equity, parental leave and creating family friendly workplaces, was clearly taken with the baby.