Jacinda Ardern’s baby, Neve, gets front row seat at UN

NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has made history, as the first female leader to bring her baby to a United Nations meeting in New York.

Jacinda Ardern holds baby daughter Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford, as her husband Clarke Gayford looks on during the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit. Picture: Don Emmert/AFP

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s baby daughter has made a splash at the United Nations, sitting in on a meeting with her mother. Ms Ardern is among world leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York this week and has had daughter Neve, born in June, in tow.

While the prime minister spoke at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit on Tuesday, Neve got a front-row seat on father Clarke Gayford’s lap, catching the eye of cameras. She earlier watched proceedings with her mum. Having become the second woman to give birth in elected office — and the first to take maternity leave — earlier this year, 38-year-old Ms Ardern has drawn the attention of global media during the visit.

It marks the first time a female leader has brought an infant along to a general assembly meeting.

PM Ardern hands over baby Neve duty to husband Clarke Gayford as she heads to the stage to speak at the summit. Picture: Don Emmert/AFP

Baby Neve with her father Clarke Gayford at the UN meeting as her New Zealand PM mother Jacinda Ardern speaks during the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit September 24, 2018, one day before the start of the General Debate of the 73rd session of the General Assembly at the United Nations in New York. Picture: Don Emmert/AFP

Ms Ardern also spoke about motherhood during the first of her scheduled high-profile US television appearances, on the Today Show.

“You don’t know until you are there of course, but it’s met my expectations, the joy though has far surpassed my expectations,” she said.

However, she joked that taking a three-month-old on the 17-hour flight to New York felt about “on-par” with the pressure of running a country.

“There’s that look you get when you walk onto a plane with a little one, that stare you get from other passengers … I did actually apologise in advance.”

Ms Ardern makes a speech at the summit. Picture: Richard Drew/AP

Meanwhile, Mr Gayford — now a full-time dad travelling with the prime minister — on social media posted photos of a mock ID card that had been made up for Neve by staff at the UN, listing her title as “first baby” of New Zealand.

He also had a story to tell about Neve’s first diplomatic incident. “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,” he said.

“Great yarn for her 21st [birthday].”

— AAP

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