New Zealand prime minister becomes first female world leader to bring baby to UN

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who gave birth earlier this year while in office, made history when she brought her infant daughter to the United Nations General Assembly meeting Monday. 

Ardern, who is only the second world leader in history to give birth while in office, told the New Zealand Herald it was a “practical decision” to take her daughter, Neve, to the U.N. 

{mosads}“Neve is actually nearby me most of the time in New Zealand. … [H]ere, when she’s awake, we try and keep her with me. So that was the occasion,” she said. 

Ardern, 38, gave birth in June and returned to work last month after six weeks of maternity leave.

Ardern’s partner, television host Clarke Gayford, tweeted a picture of the baby’s mock U.N. diplomatic photo ID that described her as “New Zealand first baby.”

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

Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power tweeted, “I cannot stress how much the @UN – and the governments that comprise it – need this.”

I cannot stress how much the @UN – and the governments that comprise it – need this. https://t.co/d9NHkms96R

— Samantha Power (@SamanthaJPower) September 25, 2018

Ardern, who faced skepticism of her ability to lead after announcing her pregnancy, said earlier this year, “I’m not the first woman to work and have a baby.”