Late enough to be first

Ngaire Park and Tony Clark with Jerone (left) and Kane, who are believed to be the first twins born in New Zealand this decade. Photo / Alan Gibson

Two newborns who refused to arrive on time are believed to be the first twins to be born in New Zealand this decade.

Kane and Jerone Clark were due to arrive on Christmas Day but did not enter the world until the evening of January 2.

Their mother, 19-year-old Ngaire Park, said their belated birth at Whakatane Hospital was arduous but rewarding.

"It was special enough to have twins. To have the first ones of the decade is a bonus. They are already famous, in a way."

After 2 hours of labour, several epidural injections and a caesarean operation for their mother, the twins were born with healthy weights of 3.5kg (Kane) and 3.3kg (Jerone).

Kane, the first baby, initially emerged at a difficult angle.

Ms Park is anaemic, and had to have transfusions to help her recover from blood loss during the birth.

She said that because of the complications, she did not feel like a parent until a few days later.

"I was exhausted, with low blood pressure. But [on Tuesday] when I put them to bed for the first time, it hit me - I'm a mother."

She is scheduled to leave the maternity ward this morning.

Father Tony Clark, 19, said friends had warned him that the twins' arrival could make his life miserable.

"But that's not how I feel at all. I'm proud to be a father," he said.

The twins have Pakeha, Rarotongan and Maori blood (Te Whanau-a-Apanui) and follow in a line of farmers on both sides.

They will be raised in Opotiki, where their mother hopes they will become rugged country kids and follow their grandparents' example.

"I don't want them to be city slickers and get into that naughty stuff. They'll be like their grandparents - bushy, into hunting, diving.

"I want them to be able to follow their own dreams, but I hope they'll be sporty like their parents."

Ms Park will return to hairdressing part-time, but will put her hairdressing studies aside for a year. Mr Clark will continue his job as a labourer.