Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she will be basing herself in Auckland for the rest of the week as her due date to give birth draws near.
Ardern said she would be within vehicle distance of hospital, saying it had been pointed out she may be "tempting fate" not to be close to home.
The 37-year-old made the comments at the beginning of her regular weekly media briefing following Cabinet today and would now take six weeks off for parental leave.
Ardern touched on her pregnancy, admitting she was excited about the upcoming birth, but said picking a name was going "terribly".
She was due to give birth at Auckland Hospital on June 17.
Once at the hospital, New Zealand First leader and deputy prime minister Winston Peters would take over as acting prime minister.
it is the first child for Ardern and her partner Clarke Gayford.
The Prime Minister's office said last week the couple was happy to "share with the public some moments with their new baby" but asked for privacy in the six weeks Ardern has taken after the birth.
Media would be able to take photos and Ardern would make some comments when she leaves hospital following the birth.
One-on-one interviews with major news outlets would happen toward the end of her six weeks.
