NZ prime minister gives birth

By Rob Dabrowski on 21 June 2018 Maternity Leave Politics

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has become the second elected leader in modern history to give birth while in office.

She has given birth to her first child – a girl weighing 7.3lb.

The 37-year-old was admitted to a hospital in the city of Auckland early on Thursday morning, four days after her due date.

The baby was born at 16:45 (04:45 GMT) and the Prime Minister broke the news on social media.

In a later statement she said: ‘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 has passed on her duties to deputy prime minister Winston Peters while she takes six weeks of maternity leave.

However, she has stressed that she will be consulted on significant issues and will continue to read cabinet papers during her time away.

In 1990, the late Benazir Bhutt because the first elected world leader to give birth in office, when she a daughter while serving as Pakistan's prime minister.