Baby in tow, Ardern announces money for new mothers
JACINDA ARDERN, New Zealand’s prime minister, has made her first appearance since leaving hospital with her newborn baby, releasing a video about her family payments scheme while sitting on a couch with her sleeping daughter.
Just 10 days after the birth of Neve, Ms Ardern posted a video on Facebook to announce the start of a package to boost family incomes.
Appearing relaxed and insisting she and Clarke Gayford, her partner, were “great”, Ms Ardern said she “wasn’t too tired”, adding: “I promise I’m not too bad, I just don’t have any make-up on, so that’s why I’ve probably got more bags under the eyes than usual. This is my permanent state at the moment – either breastfeeding or this.”
Ms Ardern is only the second modern leader to give birth in office – the other was Benazir Bhutto, of Pakistan – and the first to take maternity leave.
After her six weeks of leave, Mr Gayford, a television presenter, will become the baby’s full-time carer.
Since giving birth at an Auckland hospital, Ms Ardern has received congratulations from the Queen, as well as leaders and well-wishers from around the world. The 37-year-old became prime minister late last year after a stunning election result. She formed a coalition with the support of Winston Peters, from the New Zealand First Party, who is acting prime minister.
Ms Ardern said her new payments for families with young children was the policy she was most proud of. But she herself will not receive the payment, which applies to children born or due from July 1.
“I’m really excited about the difference this package is going to make to New Zealanders,” she said. Signing off from the video, Ms Ardern said she would go and enjoy sitting with her “human hot water bottle”.