By Audrey Young
Treasurer Bill English looked more relaxed yesterday at home with wife Mary and their new son, Xavier, than during his mad dash to the birth.
Mr English was in Rotorua with fellow "brat pack" ministers for a presentation on Tuesday when Dr English went into labour in Wellington, and
fellow passengers say he cradled his head in his hands as the charter plane neared the capital.
Anxiety levels rose when the pilot told passengers the landing would be delayed because another three or four planes were ahead of them.
After sprinting from the plane across the tarmac to a waiting car, Mr English had to wait several hours for Xavier's appearance about 2.30 am Wednesday.
The baby is the couple's sixth child, and fifth boy. But by the standards of their extended families theirs is not such a big household: Mr English is one of 12 and Dr English one of 13.
Bart, now the second youngest child, was home to eagerly greet his new brother's homecoming from Wellington Hospital yesterday. The others were at school.
Being parents to six is a demanding job, "but you sort of stretch with it," said Dr English, a general practitioner. "You adjust your comfort zones."
Her husband added: "You adjust your sleep zones."
Mr English could not recall if it was the 39th or 40th grandchild for his Southland parents.
The Treasurer will resume campaigning on Monday.
