18 May 2022

Jacinda Ardern attends Question Time via video call to Parliament

3:09 pm on 18 May 2022

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has made her first public appearance since testing positive for Covid-19.

Jacinda Ardern makes a virtual appearance in Parliament. Photo:

Ardern dialled into the House remotely for Question Time this afternoon.

National's leader Christopher Luxon asked her how New Zealanders could feel confident about spending in tomorrow's Budget, given its track record on Kiwibuild.

"Over the lifetime of this government and the investments we have made consecutively through each of our Budgets, they have been unapologetically focused on New Zealanders and reducing the impact of the cost of living right back to 2017," Ardern said.

The government has also delivered over 9000 state houses since 2018 and 80,000 homes have been insulated and had heating installed through the Winter Warmer Homes programme.

Ardern caught Covid-19 after her daughter, Neve, and partner Clarke Gayford earlier tested positive for the virus.

Senior Minister Megan Woods told RNZ on Monday that Ardern had moderate symptoms and was disappointed that she would miss being present in Parliament for the deliver of the Budget.

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