New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has returned to work after spending six weeks away on maternity leave.

 

Ms Ardern, 38, gave birth to her first child in June, making her only the second world leader to give birth while in office.

The prime minister had continued to read cabinet papers and was consulted on significant issues during her leave.

Ms Ardern, who was elected in October, announced in January that she and her partner were expecting.

"I am not the first woman to multi-task. I am not the first woman to work and have a baby - there are many women who have done this before," she said at the time.