Auckland: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her partner Clark Gayford have welcomed a baby girl. The unnamed infant was born at 4:45 pm local time, with Ardern’s office confirming both mother and child are doing well.
This makes her only the second elected leader in modern history to give birth while in office.
Ardern, who was elected in October, announced in January that she and her partner Clarke Gayford were expecting a baby.
Ardern was admitted to a hospital in the city of Auckland early on Thursday morning, four days after her due date.
The 37-year-old will take six weeks of maternity leave, and has now passed on her duties to Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.
In a statement, she also 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.”
In 1990, Benazir Bhutto gave birth to a daughter while serving as Pakistan’s prime minister, a first for an elected world leader. Incidentally, Ardern’s baby was born on what would have been Bhutto’s birthday.
