New Zealand Speaker Cradles MP’s Baby While House Is in Session
Tutanekai is six weeks old and was born via a surrogate mother to the gay couple.
The speaker of New Zealand's parliament, Trevor Mallard, tweeted a photo of himself cradling the newborn baby of Labour Party MP Tamati Coffey while the parliament is in session. The photographs went viral on the internet, catching the attention of international media.
He wrote, "Normally the Speaker’s chair is only used by Presiding Officers but today a VIP took the chair with me. Congratulations Tamati Coffey and Tim on the newest member of your family."
Tutanekai is six weeks old and was born via a surrogate mother. He is the biological son of Tim Smith, Tamati’s partner. He was initially held by Coffey in the debating chamber when the speaker offered to hold him.
Other New Zealand MPs also put up photographs of Tamati with his child.
In September 2018, New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made history by bringing her baby to her debut speech at the UN in New York.
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