UN debut for NZ's 'First Baby'
With a mock security pass that lists her as the "First Baby" of New Zealand, 3-month-old Neve Te Aroha made her United Nations debut on Monday when her mother - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern - spoke at a peace summit in the General Assembly.
Jacinda Ardern is making her UN debut - and she's bringing her baby https://t.co/dXanC2Ipn4 pic.twitter.com/VXCYqLCObt
— World Economic Forum (@Davos) September 25, 2018
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Her partner Clarke Gayford, who is the baby's full-time caregiver, sat with the New Zealand delegation and held Neve as Ardern spoke. Ardern, 38, is only the second elected leader to give birth while in office, after Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto in 1990.
Gayford posted a photo on Twitter earlier on Monday of Neve's security pass for the annual gathering of world leaders in New York this week.
Because everyone on twitter's been asking to see Neve's UN id, staff here whipped one up.
I wish I could have captured the startled look on a Japanese delegation inside UN yesterday who walked into a meeting room in the middle of a nappy change.
Great yarn for her 21st. pic.twitter.com/838BI96VYX— Clarke Gayford (@NZClarke) September 24, 2018
He added: "I wish I could have captured the startled look on a Japanese delegation inside UN yesterday who walked into a meeting room in the middle of a nappy change. Great yarn for her 21st (birthday)."
Wow. Being a mum is hard enough , let alone mum and world leader ... https://t.co/hsAKEcl4IE
— Chris Skinner (@Chris_Skinner) September 25, 2018
Ardern is her country's youngest premier and the first to take maternity leave while in office.
This story is important because:
1. This should be the norm
2. The presence of a child may help politicians keep things in perspective
3. A reminder that we need a baby UNhttps://t.co/IzBbJHmyTT— Cameron Williams (@MrCamW) September 25, 2018
The United Nations was delighted to see baby Neve in the General Assembly hall, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
"Prime Minister Ardern is showing that no one is better qualified to represent her country than a working mother. Just 5 percent of the world's leaders are women, so we need to make them as welcome here as possible," he said.
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