A prime example for women

News Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is pregnant with her first child was widely welcomed across New Zealand yesterday.

Ms Ardern and her partner Clarke Gayford have been wanting a family but were not sure if would happen to them, making the news both unexpected and exciting.

At this time last year, Ms Ardern was the deputy leader of a party going nowhere in the polls. With her own particular brand of stardust, she not only took over as Labour leader, but led the party into government in a coalition with New Zealand First and a confidence and supply agreement with the Green Party.

If a political fairy tale is ever told in New Zealand, Ms Ardern will be the lead character.

Ms Ardern and Mr Gayford first knew of the pregnancy on October 13, six days before the announcement of the Government by NZ First leader Winston Peters.

Mr Peters will become acting prime minister for the six weeks Ms Ardern is allowing herself for maternity leave. In practice, Ms Ardern can take more or less time as MPs have different rules on leave than the general public, as long she clears the details with the appropriate authorities in Parliament. She will likely remain on  full pay during the leave she takes.

Mr Peters will act as prime minister and work with Ms Ardern’s office while staying in touch with her during that time. At the end of her leave, she will resume all prime ministerial duties.

There is an important point to note in her commitment to return to all prime ministerial duties, one which is playing out in rumour and gossip throughout New Zealand.

Conspiracy theorists were last year surmising Ms Ardern would find a way of leaving the top job, clearing the way for Mr Peters, as part of the secret negotiations between the two party leaders.

Ms Ardern and Mr Peters told media they would not release a document with further policy commitments between Labour and NZ First because it was only notes and not an "official" document.

After the formal coalition agreement was released in October, Mr Peters told media there was another document, which he said had now been edited to about 33 pages, which included policy commitments, the appointment process for diplomats and "directives to ministers".

Ms Ardern said the documents were more a record of some of the coalition discussions, and any policy details that had been discussed had already been released.

When something becomes an official part of the work programme, at that point . . . the Government has to be transparent. But when it comes to documents sitting behind a negotiation, these are not necessarily going to be pursued. As soon as they are released, there is an expectation  it is a hard-and-fast policy, when it might not be at all, Ms Ardern said at the time.

The Government is still dedicated to greater transparency and this is a prime time for a demonstration of that commitment.

World leaders have sent their congratulations to Ms Ardern and Mr Gayford. Ms Ardern will not be the first woman to give birth while in office. Nearly 30 years ago, the prime minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto gave birth to her second child while in power.

There is a very strong message being sent by the Prime Minister and her partner. Mr Gayford will stay at home to be the primary caregiver and Ms Ardern says knowing so many parents juggle the care of their new babies, they consider themselves to be very lucky.

Ms Ardern (37) is demonstrating to women in New Zealand it is possible to have a top-flight career and still become a mother. Too often, we are told women hit a barrier in promotion or pay because they are expected to take time off work to have children.

Although she is in a privileged position, being New Zealand’s top politician and having a caring and supportive partner, Ms Ardern will be an example to women and employers alike.

New Zealand has often led the world in reforms and this is another chance to show how enlightened the country is.