Prime Minister-designate Jacinda Ardern this morning has her first meeting with a foreign leader in her new role, when she welcomes Ireland's President at Parliament House.
Michael D. Higgins arrived in New Zealand yesterday for a week-long state visit.
He was welcomed at Government House in Wellington yesterday afternoon by Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy, a guard of honour, and some local school kids who Mr Higgins addressed in his native tongue.
After meeting with the Irish President this morning, Ms Ardern is due to announce portfolios for the ministers in her coalition government.
Under the coalition agreement she signed with New Zealand First yesterday, that party has four ministerial postings inside cabinet and a parliamentary undersecretary.
The portfolios are foreign affairs, infrastructure, regional economic development, internal affairs, seniors, defence, veterans' affairs, children, forestry, state owned enterprises, racing, associate finance and associate education.
NZ First leader Winston Peters will be Deputy Prime Minister.
The Greens will have three ministers outside cabinet under their support agreement with Labour.
Ministerial portfolios for the Greens are climate change - which leader James Shaw will take - conservation, women, land information, associate environment, statistics, associate transport and associate health.
One of its MPs, expected to be Jan Logie, will be parliamentary under-secretary to the Minister of Justice with responsibility for domestic and sexual violence.
This afternoon, Ms Ardern is set to address the NZ Council of Trade Unions' biennial conference.
She will be sworn in as Prime Minister tomorrow.
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