Russel Norman to be father

Russel Norman and his partner Katya Paquin. File photo / Herald on Sunday

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman is to be a father.

He and partner Katya Paquin, 31, were overjoyed about the pregnancy.

"Very, very happy," Dr Norman, 43, said this morning.

The Wellington couple would spend the summer preparing for the February birth of their first child. They knew the sex but were keeping that to themselves.

Their child will be a niece or nephew for actress Anna Paquin, star of TV series True Blood.

ACT leader Rodney Hide is also expecting with fiancee Louise Crome.

Mr Hide, 53, and Ms Crome, 32, a retired squash player, are to marry in December. The baby is due at the end of March.

- NZPA