New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has named her newborn daughter Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford. Ardern, 37, and her partner Clarke Gayford announced their first child's name as they left Auckland Hospital on Sunday. Ardern said the new family was "sleep-deprived but super well" as she thanked hospital staff and members of the public for their support. "We chose Neve because we just liked it and when we met her we thought she looked like she suited the name.<doc-sep>WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said she had named her first child Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford, as she left an Auckland hospital with her partner on Sunday, three days after her daughter was born. Ms. Ardern, the leader of the center-left Labour Party and the first sitting world leader to give birth in almost three decades, will take six weeks of parental leave before returning to work. The deputy prime minister, Winston Peters, who is the leader of a minor party, is acting prime minister in her absence. At a short news conference on Sunday, Ms. Ardern, 37, who had said before the birth that she and her partner, Clarke Gayford, were struggling to name their child, said they had chosen Neve for a first name because “we just liked it.”<doc-sep>New Zealand's prime minister has named her baby daughter Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford, as she and partner Clarke Gayford left hospital. Ms Ardern said the couple had struggled for months to decide on a name but had decided to wait until their baby was born to see which one suited her. She said Neve meant bright, radiant and snow. "We chose Neve because we just liked it, and when we met her we thought she looked like she suited the name. "Te Aroha was our way of reflecting the amount of love this baby has been shown even before she even arrived... it's also the place where all my family are from and I grew up under that mountain." Advertisement Aroha means "love" in Maori, while Mt Te Aroha is a 952-metre mountain in the Kaimai Range, on New Zealand's North Island. The "Ardern" would serve as another middle name, meaning the baby is known as "Neve Gayford", she added. Image: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has left hospital in Auckland Mr Gayford said that the birth had been "all a bit of a blur... for both of us", but added: "I won't forget the look on Jacinda's face when she finally held the baby... she looked absolutely just stunned and very, very happy." Little Neve was born on Thursday afternoon New Zealand time, weighing 7.3lb, but the prime minister was kept in hospital for three days mainly due to security arrangements. On Sunday, the little baby made her first public appearance at Auckland City Hospital, appearing to sleep soundly as her parents answered a few questions for waiting reporters. Ms Ardern, who described herself as doing well but being "sleep-deprived", plans to take six weeks off work before Mr Gayford takes on the bulk of the parenting duties. Image: Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford have introduced their daughter Neve The 37-year-old, who is only the second elected world leader to give birth while in office, said her partner was "being as much of a role model as I am". She added: "I hope for little girls and boys that there's a future where they can make choices about how they raise their family and what kind of career they have that are based on what they want and what makes them happy. Simple." The baby was welcomed with congratulatory messages from world leaders and royals, including from the Queen and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, something Ms Ardern described as "mindblowing". The royal couple will visit New Zealand as part of a tour later this year. Other gifts included a bouquet of flowers form the Saudi Embassy that was so large that it would not fit into the room and was moved to the ward to be shared with other new mothers. Image: Neve Gayford has been dubbed the 'prime miniature' in New Zealand But Ms Ardern added that she also treasured the messages from "those people who took time to send a little note, or a blanket, or a set of booties". Mr Gayford, known in New Zealand as the "first bloke", is the presenter of a fishing show, and Ms Ardern was the youngest New Zealand PM in 150 years, but she said they would not put pressure on their new baby. "We're not placing any great expectations on this baby - except happiness and love," she said.<doc-sep>New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has officially introduced her newborn daughter to the world. Ms Ardern, 37, and her partner Clarke Gayford introduced baby Neve Te Aroha Ardern-Gayford to the media after her birth on Thursday afternoon. Ardern’s quirky choice of name, which is traditionally spelt Niamh, has Irish roots and is said to mean ‘bright and radiant’. The newborn has been dubbed the 'prime miniature'. Scroll down for video New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern, 37, introduces her newborn baby girl Neve to the world A glowing Ardern introduced her daughter at a press release on Sunday morning, beginning by telling the attendees they must have 'a calming effect' 'She's finally going to sleep,' she laughed, whilst gently rocking little Neve She has since thanked hospital staff for her care, and already noted the sleep deprivation has kicked in. A glowing Ardern introduced her daughter at a press release on Sunday morning, beginning by telling the attendees they must have 'a calming effect'. 'She's finally going to sleep,' she laughed, whilst gently rocking little Neve. 'Over the next six weeks, we will do what every parent does and learn the little nuances of the way Neve wants to work,' Ms Ardern told a handful of reporters shortly after leaving the hospital. While she said she was too caught up in the fleeting moment to remember exactly what went through her mind when she held Neve for the first time, Gayford said he'd take one special memory home with him. 'I won't forget the look on Jacinda's face when she finally held the baby,' he said. Ardern’s quirky choice of name, which is traditionally spelt Niamh, has Irish roots and is said to mean ‘bright and radiant’ 'Over the next six weeks, we will do what every parent does and learn the little nuances of the way Neve wants to work,' Ms Arden told reporters The parents beamed at their new baby girl The couple thanked everyone who sent gifts and well wishes and promised to pay it forward He called the birth experience a 'bit of a blur for both of us' 'It was all a bit of a blur for the both of us but she had obviously been through so much and she just looked so happy.' The couple went on to thank every single person who has congratulated, offered support, or provided gifts for them on this journey. 'Its mind blowing receiving messages from the Queen but it's equally important to us as everyone else who has taken the time to send us a note or a blanket.' 'Every knitted piece we have has been made by someone who has taken the time to sit down and knit it for us.' 'It's absolutely beautiful,' she added. The family have decided to 'pay it forward' with all the gifts they have received. 'As soon as we're done with it we'll be sure to pass it all on to another family... another baby.' Ms Ardern, 37, and her partner Clarke Gayford welcomed baby Neve Te Aroha Ardern-Gayford after her birth on Thursday afternoon Ms Ardern was the first world leader to have a baby in office in 30 years - and only the second ever. Ms Ardern, 37, and her partner Clarke Gayford announced the birth of their first child, weighing 7lb 3oz, on Instagram. She follows in the footsteps of the late Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who in 1990 became the only democratically-elected female world leader in recorded history to give birth while in power. 'Welcome to our village wee one,' Ms Ardern wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of her and Mr Gayford with their new arrival. 'Feeling very lucky to have a healthy baby girl that arrived at 4.45pm weighing 3.31kg (7.3lb) Thank you so much for your best wishes and your kindness. We're all doing really well thanks to the wonderful team at Auckland City Hospital.' 'Welcome to our village wee one,' the New Zealand prime minister posted on Instagram New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, 37, went into labour with her first child on Thursday morning The Prime Minister arrived at Auckland City Hospital accompanied by her partner Clarke Gayford on Thursday morning (pictured together) Ms Ardern's office said mother and child are doing well. 'I'm sure we're going through all of the emotions new parents go through, but at the same time feeling so grateful for all the kindness and best wishes from so many people,' Ms Ardern said in a statement. Ms Ardern was due on June 17. The 37-year-old worked right up until she went into labour on Thursday morning. The New Zealand Government will be led by Winston Peters, 73, for the next six weeks. Ms Ardern assured she would still be on call, and the government would be business as usual. For more than a month, Ms Ardern has talked down the significance of her leave, saying she'll still be receiving briefings and be available for major decisions or to discipline ministers if necessary. 'The thing to keep in mind is: I'm not dead,' she told TVNZ. But while Ms Ardern has been working to assure the nation, Mr Peters has been causing a stir. He lodged a privacy breach lawsuit against a government department the day Ms Ardern left Wellington, recently scuttled a major piece of Labour policy and has attacked the leadership of the country's largest company. Ms Ardern is set to make history as the first New Zealand Prime Minister to give birth while in the top seat Following the birth, the government will be led by Winston Peters, 73, for six weeks. Ms Ardern (pictured at Polyfest in March) assured she would still be on call, and it would be business as usual During Ms Ardern's maternity leave, Mr Peters - the leader of the minority NZ First Party which forms part of New Zealand's coalition government - will have powers similar to those he would have if the prime minister was overseas.<doc-sep>
New Zealand's Prime Minister has given her newborn daughter an Irish name We love her hat! The Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern has unveiled her newborn daughter to the world and revealed her name. She and partner Clarke Gayford have named the little girl Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford. The name is derived from the Irish name Niamh, which means bright, radiant and snow, Arden told reporters at Auckland Hospital. The couple decided on the unusual spelling for ease of pronunciation, something which many Irish people will be able to relate to. "When we met her we thought she looked like she suited the name," she said. "Also it means, in various forms, bright and radiant and snow, which seemed like a good combination for Matariki (Maori new year) and for solstice." Te Aroha is the name of a mountain in New Zealand. The couple welcomed Neve, their first child, on Thursday, announcing the news on Instagram. "Welcome to our village wee one," Ardern wrote in the caption. "Feeling very lucky to have a healthy baby girl that arrived at 4.45pm weighing 3.31kg (7.3lb)." A post shared by Jacinda Ardern (@jacindaardern) on Jun 20, 2018 at 11:14pm PDT She is thought to be the second elected leader in modern history who has given brith while holding office. Earlier this year she announced that she would be taking a six-week maternity leave after giving birth and that her partner would then stay at home with baby. "Clarke and I are privileged to be in the position where Clarke can stay home to be our primary caregiver. "Knowing that so many parents juggle the care of their new babies, we consider ourselves to be very lucky."