Editorial: Give PM chance to prove herself

Linda Hall, Assistant Editor, Hawke's Bay Today.

When the news broke of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's pregnancy I knew the keyboard warriors would be out in force.

I happened to be sitting at a cafe when I read the news on my cellphone. I asked a young girl at the cafe if she had heard. No, she said. "What happens now? She'll be out, I suppose."

I told her what I had read about the PM taking six weeks off when the baby was born and that Winston Peters would be acting Prime Minister.

"Oh, my grandmother loves Winston, so she'll be happy."

And that sums up this situation really well. Some people are going to be happy, others are not and some are going to be really nasty.

I say give her a chance. Some of the comments on social media have been pretty harsh. "Oh, she's put up the maternity leave so she can take longer off.''

Well actually the extra four weeks doesn't start until July 1 and, as Ms Ardern is due is the middle of June, it won't apply to her. One comment was that it was "a little bit irresponsible when you just started a job".

What does that even mean? Is there a time limit you have to be in a job before having a baby? No. Life happens.

There are millions of working mothers all over the world. They may not be running a country but some have high-powered jobs and they cope.

Ms Ardern's partner Clarke Gayford is reportedly going to be the "stay-at-home dad". He's not the first and he won't be the last. It worked well for my daughter when she had her last child. Her husband stayed at home for a year while she went back to work after her maternity leave was up.

That's what families do — they find a way to make it work.

Give them a chance.

Ms Ardern didn't get to where she is now by making silly decisions. The 37-year-old has worked hard. Why should she even consider giving up her job because she is pregnant?
I trust that if she can't make it she will take the right steps.

Think on this, though: if she does stand down, it will be Winston Peters as PM for the next three years.

I hope she manages.