Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's parents have expressed their excitement at the birth of their new granddaughter.
The baby arrived at 4.45pm yesterday at Auckland City Hospital - weighing 3.31kg.
Ms Ardern's father Ross Ardern told RNZ he and his wife Laurell were "very proud" and warmly welcomed the new addition to their family.
Mr Ardern said it was a special moment when they received the news, though the world-wide media attention felt "slightly out of kilter".
"We're a family that are fairly well grounded and to see this on the international media is absolutely different - I can say that without a shadow of a doubt.
"But this is news that Jacinda wanted to share with New Zealand, and for it to be part of New Zealand, and I think her and Clarke have managed to do just that."
He said the baby girl would be great company for their other two grandchildren. He was part of the support team "as all members of our family will be."
Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the couple were smitten with their daughter and overwhelmed by the reaction from friends, colleagues and the public.
Mr Robertson said the birth was a fantastic story for New Zealand to tell about the "kind of country we are - that is is possible for a woman to combine a high-profile career and having children".
"Jacinda said herself she's not superwoman, she's doing what a lot of other women have done which is work up until they give birth and then come back to work in a few weeks time, and that's what a lot of women do, it's quite a normal thing.
"Equally, as the Prime Minister of New Zealand it's quite an amazing thing."
PARLIAMENT MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY
In recent times, Parliament has become more family-friendly.
The Speaker's encouraged MPs to bring infants into the debating chamber or a nearby room to be fed.
And an outdoor playground is on its way.
It's a different time from when Nanaia Mahuta welcomed her son into the world while a Labour MP in 2009.
"Look, I'm really glad now because we've got more and more young women, who not only believe that they can come to Parliament and serve and have babies - but be the prime minister, too."
And she had some important advice for the new parents.
"Sleep when you can. These first few months, I think it's going to be all about bubs, but I'm pretty confident that she will be able to do it and she's got a lot of doting colleagues who will be willing aunties to push the pram up and down to to get baby to sleep."
Ms Ardern is expected to spend the next six weeks on maternity leave, before returning to Parliament in August.
