Winston Peters has leapt to the Prime Minister's defence during a heated exchange at her first question time in Parliament today.
National's deputy leader Paula Bennett had been grilling Jacinda Ardern over the government's proposal to implement 26 weeks of paid parental leave when the Deputy PM rose from his seat to interject with a supplementary question.
"Prime Minister would she and her cabinet and the government be so much more wise and informed on this matter had the opposition put this policy into place in the last nine years," he said.
The Prime Minister then answered his question, looking grateful for the support.
"The Deputy Prime Minister is absolutely right, this is an issue that could have been pursued in the last nine years.
"I do need to point out we reached out to the member who put up the SOP and she's refused to collaborate with us on her very suggestion," Ms Ardern replied.
Ms Ardern's last appearance was at the state opening of Parliament and the beginning of the debate that followed it, then she left for the APEC and East Asia Summit.
Until Thursday her deputy Kelvin Davis has had to answer questions on her behalf.
The Prime Minister usually faces questions from the leader of the opposition but Bill English is out of town.
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