New Zealand Labour leader slams question about baby plans
New Zealand's newly elected opposition leader Jacinda Ardern says it is 'totally unacceptable' to ask women in 2017 if they're planning to have children.
The 37-year-old, who replaced Andrew Little in a surprise move on Tuesday as head of the Labour Party, told TV morning show AM host Mark Richardson he had gone too far inquiring about her baby plans.
The sports presenter had suggested that, 'this is a legitimate question for New Zealand, because she could be the prime minister running this country. She has our best interests at heart, so we need to know these things'.
Ms Ardern, who is dating media personality Clarke Gayford but does not have any children, pointed her finger at Richardson as she flatly rejected his reasoning.
Newly elected NZ Labour leader Jacinda Ardern, 37, says it is 'totally unacceptable' to ask women in 2017 if they're planning to have children
TV morning show AM host Mark Richardson (pictured) asked Ms Ardern about her baby plans
While she said she wasn't offended because she had talked about the issue in public before, she told the morning show host: 'For other women, it is totally unacceptable in 2017 to say that women should have to answer that question in the workplace.'
'It is the woman's decision about when they choose to have children. It should not predetermine whether or not they get the job,' she added.Â
Outraged viewers took to social media to slam Richardson for his comments.
'I see Jacinda Ardern has already been asked about babies vs career. Please can every nob who asks that ask the same of Bill English?' TVNZ presenter Hilary Barry tweeted.
 'Not on board with asking Jacinda Ardern how she would juggle p olitics/parenting..,' weather presenter Ingrid Hipkiss added.
'I didn't realise Jacinda Ardern was the first person to ever run for Prime Minister who was also able to become a parent,' added another user.
'It is the woman's decision about when they choose to have children. It should not predetermine whether or not they get the job,' she told the panel
Outraged viewers took to social media to slam Richardson for his comments
Earlier this year Ardern told the New Zealand Herald that she wanted to become a mother, which would make being the party's leader difficult.
'I don't think they're mutually exclusive,' she said at the time.
'If we want parliament to reflect New Zealand as a society, then we should be able to accommodate both. But at the same time, it's always going to be hard, because you're split-living,' she added.
Ardern is the youngest Labour leader in the party's history and only the second woman in the position, former prime minister Helen Clark being the other. She was voted in as leader after Little bowed out due to a series of devastating polls for the party.
Current Prime Minister Bill English has six children.Â
Earlier this year Ardern told the New Zealand Herald that she wanted to become a mother, which would make being the party's leader difficult
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