Ardern, at 38 her country's youngest prime minister, addressed the peace summit, which was preceded by the unveiling of a statue of famed South African leader Nelson Mandela. Ardern paid tribute to Mandela and his struggle for equality and also reaffirmed New Zealand's commitment of fighting for the values that Manela espoused. Both Gayford and Neve listened intently during the speech. Neve's attendance made her mother the first world leader to bring a child to the U.N.

Ardern made a point of saying that she was paying for the travel and accommodation of her husband and daughter as they accompanied her on their short stay in the U.S., including an appearance on NBC's Today Show. They traveled to the U.S. from New Zealand, on a journey that totaled 37 hours.

Ardern is the world's second modern leader to give birth while in office. Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto was the first, in 1990. When Neve was born, her mother became her country's first leader to take maternity leave. Ardern became New Zealand's third female prime minister in 2017. She gave birth in June 2018 and was then off work for six weeks, during which time Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters served as leader.

Neve and her parents were seen returning to the U.N. as the 73rd General Assembly got under way.