Venkat Raman
Auckland, August 2, 2018
Jacinda Ardern resumed her duties as Prime Minister today after six week’s of maternity leave following the birth of her daughter Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford.
She and her Partner Clarke Gayford posed for special pictures with their baby yesterday.
The pictures were taken at their Auckland by Derek Henderson to mark Ms Ardern’s return to work. She has the copyright to these pictures.
As reported earlier, Mr Gayford will be a stay-at-home father.
Ms Ardern found out about the pregnancy last October and told Mr Gayford about the news through Facebook video call.
The couple announced the pregnancy to the public on January 19, 2018.
They were inundated with good wishes from the public, current and former politicians and attracted comment from media around the world.
Suggestion of Names
Ms Ardern was gifted the name Waru at Ratana celebrations and the name Waimirirangi was offered at Waitangi Day celebrations if the baby was a girl.
Ms Ardern is one of very few elected leaders to have given birth while in office.
Other Mothers while in Office
The only other recorded instance in recent times was of Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto, who was elected Prime Minister in 1988 and in 1990 gave birth to her second child.
Prior to her, Queen Elizabeth II gave birth to Prince Andrew in 1960 and Prince Edward in 1964 after her ascension to the throne in 1952.
Queen Victoria, Catherine the Great and Cleopatra also became mothers while being leaders of their states.
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Photo Caption:
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her Partner Clarke Gayford with their baby Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford at their Auckland home 
yesterday.
(Picture by Derek Henderson. © Jacinda Ardern
