In her first month back she will deliver a major speech on the economy.
"What I want to make sure I'm marrying up and talking about much, much more is that we cannot deal our social agenda without that strong economic agenda too. So that is me really confronting the things that are coming through in those business confidence surveys.
One of the strong messages there will be that we have to modernise our economy We have to address our productivity challenge, we have to address the skills gap we have.
Now we've got a plan for each of those but with that comes change and I know that creates uncertainty. But actually it's necessary if we are going to build the economy that we need, strengthen the economy and fulfil some of the potential that exists within it."
She repeated Finance Minister Grant Robertson's argument that the fundamentals of the economy remained strong, including forecast growth, and unemployment figures.
Ardern's absence from Parliament left Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters in charge, and Ardern said he had done the role admirably.
She said she had not been tempted to intervene at any point, but conceded she would not not have called National MP Gerry Brownlee "fatty," or had a go at Australia for its flag.
"As I say, we've all got different styles."
Her return would be a continuation of Labour's agenda but would move into a "second stage" now that the Families Package was in place and things such as the Regional Growth Fund.
Ardern spoke to media for the first time today since Neve was born six weeks ago, speaking about the experience of motherhood as well as her plans when she returns to work.
She formally took back the reins as Prime Minister on Wednesday night and will move to Wellington on Saturday.