This archive report was first published on 22 August 2019.
On a typical day in New Zealand's Parliament, Speaker Trevor Mallard is known for presiding over debates. However, on this particular day, he had a special guest in tow - baby T?t?nekai Smith-Coffey, the son of MP T?mati Coffey. The Speaker's tweet, which included photos of him holding the baby and giving him a bottle, read: 'Normally the Speaker's chair is only used by Presiding Officers, but today a VIP took the chair with me.'
Mr. Mallard, a father of three, has set a new standard for politicians balancing work and family life. His actions are a testament to the changing times and the need for more flexible work arrangements, especially for parents.
While some countries, like New Zealand, are embracing the realities of parenting and giving parents leeway to attend parliament with their babies, others, like Kenya, are yet to follow suit. In 2018, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern famously took her baby girl to a UN assembly hall, and in 2017, Australian senator Larissa Waters breastfed her baby while attending a session of parliament.
However, not all countries are as understanding. In Denmark, the Speaker informed his colleague that his baby wasn't welcome in parliament, and in Kenya, the Kwale Women's Representative, Zuleikha Hassan, was recently thrown out of parliament for bringing her baby along.
