U.N. debut for New Zealand's 'First Baby': diaper change, peace summit
The U.N. t-shirt of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's and Clarke Gayford's baby Neve Te Aroha is seen in New York, U.S. September 25, 2018 in this picture obtained from social media on September 26, 2018. Twitter/Clarke Gayford/via REUTERS
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - With a mock security pass that lists her as the "First Baby" of New Zealand, 3-month-old Neve Te Aroha made her United Nations debut on Monday when her mother - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern - spoke at a peace summit in the General Assembly.
Her partner Clarke Gayford, who is the baby's full-time caregiver, sat with the New Zealand delegation and held Neve as Ardern spoke. Ardern, 38, is only the second elected leader to give birth while in office, after Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto in 1990.
Gayford posted a photo on Twitter earlier on Monday of Neve's security pass for the annual gathering of world leaders in New York this week.
The U.N. id pass of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's and Clarke Gayford's baby Neve Te Aroha is seen in New York, U.S. September 24, 2018 in this picture obtained from social media on September 26, 2018. Twitter/Clarke Gayford/via REUTERS
He added: "I wish I could have captured the startled look on a Japanese delegation inside U.N. yesterday who walked into a meeting room in the middle of a nappy change. Great yarn for her 21st (birthday)."
Ardern is her country's youngest premier and the first to take maternity leave while in office.
The United Nations was delighted to see baby Neve in the General Assembly hall, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern kisses her baby Neve after speaking at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, U.S., September 24, 2018. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
"Prime Minister Ardern is showing that no one is better qualified to represent her country than a working mother. Just 5 percent of the world's leaders are women, so we need to make them as welcome here as possible," he said.
(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Grant McCool)
Clarke Gayford, partner to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern holds their baby Neve as Ardern speaks at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, U.S., September 24, 2018. REUTERS/Carlo AllegriNew Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern holds her baby Neve in the General Assembly Hall at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, U.S., September 24, 2018. REUTERS/Carlo AllegriNew Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern holds her baby after speaking at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, U.S., September 24, 2018. REUTERS/Carlo AllegriNew Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern sits with her baby Neve after speaking at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, U.S., September 24, 2018. REUTERS/Carlo AllegriNew Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reacts as she sees her baby Neve at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, U.S., September 24, 2018. REUTERS/Carlo AllegriNew Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern arrives speaks at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, U.S., September 24, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
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