Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern addresses the furore over a controversial 60 Minutes interview with her that critics panned as "repugnant" and "patronising".
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she's not offended by questions asked in a 60 Minutes interview which critics panned as "patronising" and "sexist".
She joked that perhaps it was because she had lost some of her sensitivity - or because she was from Morrinsville.
Australian reporter Charles Wooley was slammed on social media for the Sunday night segment, in which he commented on Ardern's attractiveness and asked when her baby was conceived.
"One really important political question that I want to ask you, and that is, what exactly is the date that the baby's due?" he said.
When Ardern told him it was due on June 17, Wooley said: "It's interesting how much people have been counting back to the conception date."
"You're assuming I haven't been asked that by New Zealand media," she said.
"At the time certainly that question threw me a little bit but it would be going a bit far to say I was offended by it, I wasn't. It was one put under the heading of 'too much information'."
Clarke Gayford, left, with partner Jacinda Ardern and Australian reporter Charles Wooley. Photo / Supplied
Ardern, who said she hasn't yet watched the episode, said she was so unbothered by the questions she had to be reminded of them after the incident blew up online and was reported by media on Monday morning.
"I haven't spent too much time analysing it, maybe I've lost all my sensitivity - maybe it's just that I'm from Morrinsville," she joked.
"I wasn't particularly fazed by any of it."
Ardern also said she did not feel Wooley's comments on her looks were sexist.
"I've met a lot of prime ministers in my time, but none too young and not so many so smart, and never one so attractive", Wooley said on 60 Minutes.
"Charles Wooley interviewing Jacinda Ardern on 60 Minutes would have to go down as the most patronising interview for a long time," one critic said.
Another said she was disgusted at Wooley's "sexist comments" and was left wondering if there would be any focus on Ardern's achievements.
Wooley also came under fire for questioning the young leader, who is pregnant, about her due date.
