Private joy, public face: Jacinda Ardern spent day at Diwali the day after pregnancy news

Jacinda Ardern was enjoying a break from coalition talks with an afternoon at the Diwali Festival the day after she found out she was pregnant.

On October 14, Ardern joined tens of thousands of people in Aotea Square for the annual Auckland Diwali Festival celebrations.

Just a day earlier, she and partner Clarke Gayford found out she was pregnant.

The Diwali Festival! If you didn't have a chance to get down there today, make sure you do tomorrow https://www.aucklandnz.com/auckland-diwali-festival-2017

Posted by Jacinda Ardern on Saturday, 14 October 2017

Ardern had just completed a week of intense coalition negotiations with Winston Peters and New Zealand First over who would win the Government benches, and was still five days from finding out that she would become Prime Minister.

Ardern enjoyed the sunshine and performances, took selfies with supporters, and even had a moment of mild discomfort when she was mistakenly introduced by an announcer as the leader of the National Party.

She said at the time that it was great to be outside after a week of being behind closed doors during coalition negotiations.

"I'm taking a little bit of time out, trying to spend a bit of time in Auckland and across the electorate I represent.

"This is all about creating the kind of city and the kind of culture that we want to be. These kinds of festivals, where everyone comes together and learns a bit more
about another culture.

"There's only good that can come from that."

Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern at Diwali Festival at Aotea Square. Photo / Doug Sherring

Jacinda Ardern with Diwali performers at Aotea Square, a day after discovering she was pregnant. Photo / Doug Sherring

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, after being introduced as being from the National Party, at the Diwali Festival - a day after finding out she was pregnant. Photo / Doug Sherring