Last updated 14:53, June 10 2018
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Prime Minuister Jacinda Ardern says a Labour minister erred or major decisions were required while she's on leave, she would expect to be involved.
Prime Minuister Jacinda Ardern says a Labour minister erred or major decisions were required while she's on leave, she would expect to be involved.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she's not superwoman - and she worries about other expectant mums feeling the pressure to follow her example.
Ardern is due to give birth to her first child next Sunday, and she has vowed to continue to work in her capacity as prime minister up to the moment she enters Auckland Hospital to give birth.
She plans to hand over the reins to NZ First leader and deputy prime minister Winston Peters, but Ardern told TVNZ's Q+A programme she was "desperate" not to let the country down - she would stay true to her role as prime minister.
AS her birth date approaches, "motherly" kiwis have been telling her it's okay to slow down, says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
There was nothing to worry about with Peters in charge and she wasn't relinquishing control completely.
If a Labour minister, erred, for instance, or major decisions were required, she would expect to be involved.
Winston Peters - no problem with him as acting PM, says Ardern,
"I think the thing to keep in mind is I'm not dead; I have not exited from the country; I will just be in Sandringham. And so I'll be staying in close touch."
Ardern admitted she had felt the pressure to be a role model for other women after announcing she was pregnant.
"There are these odd moments where that pressure— I actually tend to ignore that from day to day and just get on with doing the job. But when I get a flurry of text messages from media and the likes because they think they've seen a cavalcade heading to Auckland (hospital), it makes me realise that there's at least a lot of interest and there's eyes on it."
But she had never wanted to create the impression women should be superhuman or superwoman, and that she was only able to do what she was doing because she had "enormous support" and was quite privileged.
"I wouldn't want to be held up as some kind of exemplar because it's not easy, and I'm lucky."
She had seen a "motherly" side to New Zealand after announcing her pregnancy, including messages from complete strangers saying: 'We get it now, but you're also allowed to sit down'.", Ardern said.
"And so that sentiment has been lovely. And so I guess my message would be I can assure people I will keep doing my job, but I also acknowledge I'm not superhuman. "
If Peters is out of the country or cannot fulfil the role for whatever reason Ardern's deputy, Kelvin Davis, would be next in line as acting prime minister. Davis has been in hot water with the Prime Minister lately after a shambolic select committee appearance where he refused to answer questions and put down a female MP by calling her "hysterical".