19 Jan 2018

As it happened: PM announces pregnancy

5:26 pm on 19 January 2018

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that she is pregnant.

  • She made the announcement on Instagram first, then Twitter.
  • The baby is due in June.
  • Clarke Gayford will be a stay at home dad.
  • Winston Peters will take on the role of Acting Prime Minister for six weeks after the baby is born.
  • Ms Ardern said they found out about the pregnancy on Friday 13 October.
  • Politicians from at home and abroad are reaching out to congratulate the pair.
  • Social media users are also reaching out saying that it is "wonderful news".
  • Ms Ardern said the baby will take Clarke's last name.
  • Ms Ardern said it was a "happy surprise" and that she is not the first woman to "work and have a baby".
  • The announcement makes Ms Ardern one of the only head of state in recent times to be pregnant while in office. A first for the western world, the only other recorded political head of government to give birth was Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto.
  • Ms Ardern said she intended to be fully contactable and available throughout the six-week period.

Follow a live blog of the reaction and latest developments here:

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