Weekend Herald editorial: Jacinda Ardern to prove women can have a child and career

Editorial

It is a hard political heart that could not be overjoyed at the news the Prime Minister is to have a baby. It is a first for New Zealand and rare in the world for a head of government to give birth during her time in office. But primarily of course it is a thrill to know that the couple the country has recently come to know, Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford, are to experience the incomparable pleasure of parenthood, answering the question many considered intrusive just after taking over the Labour Party leadership.

No, she does not think being Prime Minister need preclude having a baby and she is going to prove it. She learned she was pregnant just before Winston Peters chose the Government and since then she and Gayford have made plans that should not keep her too long away from the most important and demanding job in politics.

It is her chance to demonstrate that a young woman can have both a baby and a fulfilling career thanks to her partner who will be at home shouldering most of the childcare for the next few years.

They are a thoroughly modern couple and the country can be grateful to both of them for giving it a model of equality in this respect as well as a baby to delight our public life. Its birth, due in June, will be greeted warmly. The Prime Minister's return to Parliament after a planned six week's parental leave will attract keen interest. Speaker Trevor Mallard might get more practice minding a baby in his chair.

Politicians in this country keep their children out of the limelight as a rule and in time Ardern will no doubt do the same. But this child will be in public life from birth and for a few years the toddler will probably be seen on occasions. "I think it fair to say this will be a wee one a village will raise," said the expectant mother yesterday.

Already she has shared an intimacy, telling the country, "We consider ourselves lucky for another reason. Clarke and I have always been clear we wanted to be parents but had been told we would need help for that to happen. That's made this news a fantastic surprise."

How good of her to share that. How good for other young couples having some anxiety on that front. How good it will be for the country to have a young mother as Prime Minister, especially since she has made the alleviation of child poverty her personal project. On many other policy issues to do with parental leave, childcare, health and early education she will be able to speak with personal interest and, as time goes on, experience.

It was already a point of pride for the country to have a young female Prime Minister. To have a young pregnant Prime Minister, and eventually a mother, representing us on international platforms will be even better. As the Greens' leader James Shaw said yesterday "That a woman can be the Prime Minister of New Zealand and choose to have a family while in office says a lot about the kind of country we are and that we can be — modern, progressive, inclusive and equal."

Now the "village" waits to know the baby's gender. Like many couples who keep this a secret even from their parents, Jacinda and Clarke know but they are not telling for the moment. How enriching this is for our national life, how thrilling, how lovely.