New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has returned to her duties after spending six weeks away following the birth of her daughter Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford in June.

Although she was on leave during that time, Ms Ardern continued to read government papers and consult on important issues.  She'll be based in Auckland on Thursday and Friday before heading back to Wellington this weekend to settle her family into Premier House. 

Pm Ardern announced in January that she and her partner Clarke Gayford were expecting a baby.  "I am not the first woman to multi-task," she said at the time, "I am not the first woman to work and have a baby - there are many women who have done this before."

Ardern is New Zealand's youngest Prime Minister, but not the first world leader to give birth while in office in the modern era.  Benazir Bhutto gave birth to a daughter while serving as Pakistan's prime minister in 1990.