The prime minister (pictured with Neve) was filmed breastfeeding her baby
New Zealand state TV has apologised to viewers concerned at footage of their prime minister breastfeeding.
Jacinda Ardern was discussing her nationwide ban on plastic bags in a segment for Television New Zealand’s (TVNZ) 1 News.
Following her announcement, she retreated to back of the room to feed her daughter.
A 1 News camera filmed the politician, sparking a social media storm at odds with the leader’s comfortable approach to caring for her child at work.
She told The Guardian that since Neve Te Aroha was born, she has broke off to breastfeed at work roughly every three hours, sometimes during briefings.
The footage sparked outrage among viewers, leading the state channel to issue a statement saying: ‘We got it wrong.’
They removed the video following pressure and arguments over the clip online, The West reports.
‘Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was discussing the issue of single-use plastic bags and that should have been our focus,’ a TVNZ spokeswoman said. ‘We accept the criticism. We got it wrong.’

‘We got it wrong’: The broadcaster apologised as some viewers expressed concerns about the baby’s right to privacy
It wasn’t just viewers outraged at the clip, as Newstalk ZB host Andrew Dickens aired his anger during his show.
The journalist questioned how the footage could even have been allowed due to strict rules about filming Neve.

The prime minister (pictured with her partner, Clarke Gayford) breaks off regularly to feed her newborn at the office

There have been strict rules about filming Neve and in the clip the prime minister is clearly covering her with a blanket
Some were concerned that the child’s privacy was being threatened as they pointed to the prime minister covering her daughter’s face to protect her.
But others turned on the politician herself, with one criticising Ardern and saying she’d used her daughter as a prop.
However, the founder of Mothers Helpers, Kristina Paterson, told the New Zealand Herald that Ardern was setting a wonderful example for working mothers.
She did say the channel had violated the prime minister’s privacy and argued her express consent should be sought for filming the baby.