'I'll be prime minister AND a mum': New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern, 37, announces she's pregnant with her first child (and will only take six weeks' leave)

  • New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced she is pregnant
  • She is expecting her first child with partner and TV host Clarke Gayford
  • Ms Ardern said she will be 'Prime Minister and a mum' and will take six weeks off 

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is pregnant with her first child.

Ms Ardern, 37, who is the country's youngest prime minister, made the announcement on Facebook, saying she is expecting a child with her partner, television host Clarke Gayford.

'And we thought 2017 was a big year!,' she said.

'Clarke and I are really excited that in June our team will expand from two to three, and that we'll be joining the many parents out there who wear two hats.

Ms Ardern made the announcement on Facebook, saying she is expecting a child with her partner television host Clarke Gayford (both pictured)

Ms Ardern made the announcement on Facebook, saying she is expecting a child with her partner television host Clarke Gayford (both pictured)

In an official statement, Ms Ardern said both she and Mr Gayford were 'really happy'

In an official statement, Ms Ardern said both she and Mr Gayford were 'really happy'

She posted a photo of two fishing hooks, with a smaller hook inside one of them

She posted a photo of two fishing hooks, with a smaller hook inside one of them

'I'll be Prime Minister and a mum, and Clarke will be ''first man of fishing'' and stay-at-home dad.'

She posted a photo of two fishing hooks, with a smaller hook inside one of them.

Mr Gayford hosts a fishing television show and often posts photos of himself out on the water to social media.

'I think it's fair to say that this will be a wee one that a village will raise, but we couldn't be more excited,' Ms Ardern said.

'I know there will be lots of questions, and we'll answer all of them (I can assure you we have a plan all ready to go!).'

Ms Ardern said she was suffering from morning sickness while negotiating the formation of her government.

'It's just what ladies do,' she said.

She said she only discovered that she was pregnant during protracted talks to form a coalition government and six days before she was named as prime minister on October 19. 

'Let's just say I was not feeling well,' she said.

'I am a human. Whose mind wouldn't it play on?' 

The pregnancy came as a surprise to the couple who had put their plan to conceive on hold when Ms Ardern became Labour leader in August. 

She chose Friday to make the announcement as 'there's only so long you can say you've been eating too many Christmas pies'.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters will take over for Ms Ardern for six weeks after the baby is born.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters will take over for Ms Ardern for six weeks after the baby is born

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters will take over for Ms Ardern for six weeks after the baby is born

When she returns to work her Mr Gayford will be a stay-at-home father.

'As many couples do in the early stages, we kept it to ourselves,' she said at a news conference with her partner yesterday. 

In an official statement, Ms Ardern said both she and Mr Gayford were 'really happy'.

'We wanted a family but weren't sure it would happen for us, which has made this news unexpected but exciting.'  

'As is the case when I am overseas, Mr Peters will act as Prime Minister, working with my office while staying in touch with me.

'I fully intend to be contactable and available throughout the six-week period when needed,' she said.

'I will make arrangements for appropriate ministers to act in my other portfolios over the six weeks I am away from Parliament. 

'I am not the first woman to work and have a baby. I know these are special circumstances but there are many women who have done it well before I have.' 

Ms Ardern (pictured with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull) was confirmed as New Zealand's Prime Minister in October, a month after the country's election on September 23

Ms Ardern (pictured with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull) was confirmed as New Zealand's Prime Minister in October, a month after the country's election on September 23

'At the end of my leave I will resume all Prime Ministerial duties.'

She said the pregnancy was 'unexpected' because the couple had been told by doctors that she could not become pregnant without 'help'. 

She told journalists outside her Auckland home: ‘Clarke and I are privileged to be in the position where Clarke can stay home to be our primary care-giver.

‘Knowing that so many parents juggle the care of their new babies, we consider ourselves to be very lucky.

‘Clarke and I have always been clear we wanted to be parents but had been told we would need help for that to happen. That’s made this news a fantastic surprise.’ Miss Ardern said she and Mr Gayford knew the baby’s sex but would keep it to themselves.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull offered his congratulations to Ms Ardern

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull offered his congratulations to Ms Ardern

She added that she would no longer be able to attend the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May.

Shortly after becoming leader of the Labour party last August, she was asked by TV presenter Mark Richardson whether it was acceptable for a prime minister to take maternity leave while in office. 

He said most employers would want to know the maternity plans of their workers.

Miss Ardern, who has previously spoken about the difficulties of juggling political life while also wanting to start a family, said she was happy to answer such questions but others should not feel compelled to do so. 

Pointing her finger at Mr Richardson, she added: ‘For other women, it is totally unacceptable in 2017 to say that women should have to answer that question in the workplace. That is unacceptable.’

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull offered his congratulations to Ms Ardern.

'When we spoke this morning you sounded more excited than you did when you won the election,' he said.

'Lots of love and best wishes from me and Lucy and all of us across the ditch.' 

Ms Ardern was confirmed as New Zealand's Prime Minister in October, a month after the country's election on September 23.

She isn't the first world leader to become pregnant as Benazir Bhutto became pregnant while serving as Pakistan's leader in 1990.

But despite her happy news, some New Zealanders were critical on social media. 

Kay Carroll wrote: 'Do you think the people of NZ will be happy to have their PM on meternity leave? She should have waited to have a child until she was no longer in charge. Utterly selfish behaviour.'

 

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