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Why Jacinda Ardern is reluctant to be a role model

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has opened up about why she doesn't want others to feel they have to follow her lead as she awaits her first child.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says that she is not a "superhuman".
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says that she is not a "superhuman". Source: Getty Images

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Days out from having her first child, New Zealand's prime minister says she's not superhuman and doesn't want others to feel pressured to follow her lead.

Jacinda Ardern is due to give birth next week and has been working as normal, determined to not hand over the reins until she arrives at the hospital.

After that she'll only take six weeks off and will still be on call for major decisions.

On Sunday, she told TVNZ she was reluctant to be a role model for others.

"I do not want to create a false impression that all women should be superhuman or super women," she said.

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"I am able to do what I'm doing because I have enormous support around me and it makes me quite privileged. I wouldn't want to be held up as some exemplar because it's not easy and I'm lucky. "

The 37-year-old also opened up about what life is like for her and her family.

"We know that we are watched, and we do our best just to be true to ourselves. But we know that that will happen to us for parenting as well," she said.

"As long as the judgement falls on me more than my child, that's what I hope for the most."

Meanwhile, Ms Ardern has also tried to put at ease worries about the how the country will run in her absence, praising deputy prime minister Winston Peters and saying she won't be far away.

"The thing to keep in mind is I'm not dead, I have not exited from the country ... and so I'll be staying in close touch," she said.

"I can assure people, I will keep doing my job. But I also acknowledge I'm not superhuman."

Ms Ardern's partner, broadcaster Clarke Gayford, will be their baby's primary carer after the prime minister returns to parliament.


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