First Labour caucus likely to start with baby talk

Labour MPs and their families are arriving for their first caucus of the year at a retreat near Martinborough in the Wairarapa where baby talk is expected to dominate the start of the meeting.

MPs were encouraged to bring their families before the revelation on Friday that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is expecting her first baby in June and will take a six-week absence.

Her partner, Clarke Gayford, is attending the caucus as well.

The pregnancy had come as a surprise because they had been told they needed fertility treatment to conceive.

A separate programme is being arranged for MPs' families and children for the retreat, which runs until Tuesday morning.

Deputy Prime Minister and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters will be acting Prime Minister.