"I think like any mother her focus is very much on her children and she is most of all just wanting privacy and time with them to let them have as much of a normal life as is possible to be able to cope and deal with everything they've been through," Manning said.
"This is obviously a difficult time for her and the children and they're very much looking forward to starting the next chapter of their lives and coming to New Zealand."
"I don't have any kind of timeline right now. It's obviously not something that happens overnight. There's a number of processes to work through."
Aden lived in New Zealand until age 6, when she moved to Australia.
Her case has been a bone of contention between Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison after Australia stripped her of Australian citizenship without notice to New Zealand.
Morrison had described Aden as "an enemy of our country" while Ardern had argued that the family's support base was in Australia and that was where they should return.
Ardern said on Monday that New Zealand had not taken the decision to accept the family back lightly, but the welfare of Aden's children was the primary concern now.
"They are not Turkey's responsibility, and with Australia refusing to accept the family, that makes them ours."
She said details about arrangements or timing of bringing the family home would not be made public, and legal and operational reasons mean the details of security arrangements for when they arrived could not be disclosed.
Removing Aden's New Zealand citizenship would effectively leave her stateless, Ardern said.
"I can assure people great care is being taken as to how the woman and her young children are returned to New Zealand and how they will be managed in a way that minimises any risk for New Zealanders.
"Planning by agencies has been twofold – to ensure all appropriate steps are in place to address potential security concerns and to have the right services in place to support reintegration, with particular focus on the wellbeing of the children."
The decision was welcomed by the The Islamic Women's Council of New Zealand praising the Prime Minister's decision to bring Aden and her children to New Zealand, "and not leave a young family stateless".
It said it was in accord with international obligations.
"Together, as New Zealanders, we are obligated to provide a chance for a new life for this family to integrate and to flourish in society. Quality, long-term solutions are never simple, and it takes time an effort to raise children and rebuild lives."
National Party foreign affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee was also critical of Australia's move in a statement after Ardern's announcement that the family would return to New Zealand.
"It's disappointing that Australia has shirked their responsibilities in this case and left New Zealand to deal with Suhayra Aden and her relocation to New Zealand."
Brownlee said the public needed to be assured of the survellaince she would be under – and the cost of that to the taxpayer.
"We can't lose sight of the fact that this woman chose to leave Australia and join an organisation that wants to destroy our way of life.
"Her argument that she has left that behind now is a big stretch."
Ardern said she had tried to persuade Australia to reverse its decision on citizenship, arguing that Aden grew up there before departing for Syria in 2014 on an Australian passport.
"Unfortunately, Australia would not reverse the cancellation of citizenship.
"However, Australia has subsequently assured us it will proactively consult with New Zealand if any such case arises in future."
The Republic of Turkey's Ministry of National Defence said Aden was an Islamic State terrorist.
"Three New Zealand nationals including an adult and two children were caught by our border guards in Hatay's Reyhanli district while trying to enter illegally from Syria.
"The adult, a 26-year-old woman named SA, was identified as a Daesh [Isis] terrorist wanted with a 'blue notice'."
Intelligence expert Dr Paul Buchanan, of 36th Parallel Assessments, said the blue notice indicated Aden was sought for information rather than acts of terrorism.
"It doesn't mean she's been doing anything bad. Walking across the border with kids would seem to indicate she was a camp follower or concubine."
