JACINDA ARDERN: "The plan is to win"

Jacinda Ardern told The Nation this morning that she believed she could lead Labour to victory. Photo / Mark Mitchell

After five days as Labour's leader Jacinda Arden is confident in her role and believes she is the "best person" to lead the party.

Speaking on The Nation this morning Arden said the plan was to win the upcoming election.

"I believe I'm the best person for this job and I can do it.

"The plan is to win."

Ardern also promised that Labour's new leadership team would "bring a new leadership stamp".

Labour has faced a challenging week that started with Andrew Little standing down.

Within hours of taking the role 37-year-old Ardern was asked about her desire to be a mother.

The question quickly rankled many, prompting a debate about just how appropriate it was.

Ardern said Little made "a massive selfless call" by stepping aside and choosing her to lead Labour.

She was keen to put forward a few extra policy announcements in areas including housing and environmental issues. Ardern also hinted at plans to back rail access to Auckland Airport.

However, later in the programme, Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett said she thought Ardern lacked substance compared with Prime Minister Bill English.

Newly appointed deputy Kelvin Davis told The Nation the change in leadership was a good opportunity to pursue the idea of a tikanga Maori prison.

Arden said she backs the idea of changing how our current prisons works to reduce the recidivism rate.

"I want to hear us say we are going to reduce the amount of spending on corrections because it's a waste of money," she told the programme.

Ardern led the conversation with Davis only adding a few comments.

The newly appointed leader appears to have been widely embraced.

Donations to the Labour Party increased significantly after Ardern became leader and voters throw their support behind her.