Charles Wooley's 60 Minutes interview leaves Jacinda Ardern visibly uncomfortable

Australia's long-running current affairs show 60 Minutes aired a bizarre profile on New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Sunday night.

Veteran reporter Charles Wooley followed Ardern to Parliament and to her home, grilling her less about her policies and more about her pregnancy.

Opening by asking how much she thinks the baby helps in terms of her approval rating, much of the 13-minute segment was either devoted to the impending arrival or fishing questions for "the first bloke" Clarke Gayford.

Wooley also marvelled at Ardern's age - 37 - and appearance rather than her policies, in an interview blasted as sexist and tone-deaf.

"I've met a lot of prime ministers in my time, but none so young, not too many so smart, and never one so attractive," he said.

The line of questioning at times appeared to leave Ardern and Gayford visibly uncomfortable, especially when Wooley announced that there was one, "really important political question I have to ask and that is what is the date that the baby is due".

When provided with the answer - "June 17" - he then proceeded to muse that "it's interesting how many people have been counting back to the conception ... as it were".

Charles Wooley has come under fire for his interview with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Cue bemused and anguished looks from the Kiwi couple, before Wooley, a father of six himself, added: "Why shouldn't a child be conceived during an election campaign?"

Clearly keen to move on, Ardern attempted to quash the line of questioning by emphasising that the "election was done, over" before the baby's conception date.

In another segment, Wooley went out fishing with Gayford, seemingly only to allow him to make the suggestion that "Jacinda was the catch of the day".

The line of questioning in Sunday night's 60 Minutes Australia interview at times appeared to leave Jacinda Ardern visibly uncomfortable

Spending as much time talking to the other man in Ardern's life, Winston Peters, as Gayford, Wooley lavished praise on his main subject, highlighting her "no fuss, can do attitude", her ability to "handle delicate relations with New Zealand's 'first nations' people".

Arden throughout the report handled herself with an honest pride and astonishment at her achievements - including the changes made in 100 days of governing, shown through her video post to social media - and reportedly had no issues with the interview.

"In its 40 years on-air, 60 Minutes has always been renowned for its political interviews conducted without fear or favour," a Nine spokesman responded.

"In interviews with various world leaders including Bob Hawke, Margaret Thatcher and current Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull, 60 Minutes reporters have always asked the tough questions which the public has been wanting to hear, while also showing the human side of these individuals that we rarely get to see.

"Charles Wooley came away from his interview with Jacinda Ardern in awe of her poise, intelligence and everyday charm, which was reflected in the full story."

Queensland-based Australian radio host Reg Roberts was one of many across the Tasman who expressed their outrage at the segment.

He posted on Twitter: "Was interested in the Jacinda Ardern interview on 60 Minutes, but he [Charles Wooley] made it cringeworthy."

NZ Herald columnist Steve Braunias wrote: "Wooley is so incredibly and relentlessly creepy.

"It ought to come with an R18 certificate. It ought to come with a sickbag too. Only those of strong constitution will be able stop themselves throwing up a stream of vomit that could travel the entire ditch between here and Australia," he wrote in an opinion piece on Monday.

Social media users slammed it as "repugnant" and "absolutely cringeworthy".

"Commenting on Jacinda Ardern's level of attractiveness doesn't seem to be at all relevant to her ability as a nation's leader," one Twitter user wrote.

"Charles Wooley interviewing Jacinda Ardern on 60 Minutes would have to go down as the most patronising interview for a long time," another added.

Stuff with DPA and Fairfax Media