Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and partner Clarke Gayford have announced the birth of their baby girl on Instagram, saying they feel “very lucky”.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gave birth to a baby girl in an Auckland hospital on Thursday, becoming only the second world leader to do so while in office.
The 37-year-old is only the second elected world leader to give birth while in office, after Benazir Bhutto in 1990.Admitted to the hospital earlier in the day, Ardern’s expected due date had been June 17.
Ardern posted a photo on her Instagram account showing her and partner Clarke Gayford with the baby at the hospital.
Congratulations and well wishes poured in from all corners of the globe following the news of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford welcoming a baby girl into the world.
She wrote that she was feeling very lucky to have a given birth to a healthy girl and that their daughter arrived at 4:45 pm weighing 3.3 kilograms (7.3 pounds).
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has now taken over as acting prime minister. Ardern plans to take a six-week leave before returning to work.
The PM’s office also passed on information from the Auckland DHB that 16 babies had been born at Auckland City Hospital before the announcement of the First Baby’s birth.
