A nation is holding its breath. New Zealand's prime minister has arrived at hospital to have her first child.
Jacinda Ardern's office on Thursday morning confirmed she had turned the reins over to her deputy Winston Peters after reaching Auckland Hospital.
The 37-year-old and her partner, television presenter Clarke Gayford, have not yet revealed the sex of the baby, who had been due on Sunday.
She's expected to briefly speak to reporters after the birth.
While determined to keep working until the day, Ms Ardern has for weeks now faced a stream of personal questions, parenting advice and media attention.
Although she will become the first elected world leader to take maternity leave - and only the second to have a child while in office - Ms Ardern has played down the significant global attention she's received as a role model.
"I am able to do what I'm doing because I have enormous support around me and it makes me quite privileged," she said recently.
If the baby is born on Thursday, it will share a birthday with Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the only other elected leader to have a child while in power.
The pregnancy news late last year came as a surprise to the Labour Party leader, who then had to simultaneously deal with both intense negotiations to form a government and morning sickness.
Recently, she's has also had to talk down her absence from politics, assuring her country it'll be business as usual during her six weeks off.
While the day-to-do prime-ministerial duties will be handled by the polarising Mr Peters, Ms Ardern will still be on call for any major decisions.
In a brief statement on Thursday, the now acting prime minister Mr Peters, 73, called it a happy day and sent best wishes on behalf of the government.
Australian Associated Press
