Jacinda Ardern's first international interview as Prime Minister

Jacinda Ardern's first international interview as Prime Minister
Photo credit: CNN

Jacinda Ardern has spoken to CNN for her first international interview since becoming Prime Minister of New Zealand.

CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour asked the Prime Minister about major issues during the nine-minute segment including women's rights, North Korea, and climate refugees. 

Here are some of the key points from the interview:

The North Korea nuclear threat - what would Ardern say to Trump?

When asked what she would say to President Donald Trump about the North Korea nuclear threat, Ms Ardern said she'd send the message that "it's never too late to talk".

"We're of course a nation who has championed the nuclear-free movement, we are staunchly nuclear-free and continue to promote non-proliferation."

Ms Ardern said New Zealand would continue to send its nuclear-free message while encouraging multilateral dialogue.

"It's a woman's decision when she chooses to have a family" - Ardern

Jacinda Ardern said that the gender pay gap is "acute" in New Zealand, and women are still facing discrimination when they are asked about whether they plan to have children while seeking employment.

CNN replayed a clip from the AM Show when Ms Ardern said it was "totally unacceptable" for employers to ask prospective female employees about baby plans.

Christiane Amanpour asked the Prime Minister if she felt that she had now "knocked that on the head" in New Zealand.

Ms Ardern said it's still a major issue and "will continue to be so until we speak openly about the fact that it's a woman's decision when she chooses to have a family".

"It should not be something that's raised when her future career prospects are speculated on or even if she enters into a job opportunity or an interview. I absolutely believe we'll be combatting this for a little while to come but we need to front it and weed it out when it occurs."

Will the New Zealand Government take on climate refugees?

Ms Ardern said that unless dramatic changes are made, New Zealand is "at the front of seeing refugees as a result of climate change".

She said that the Government is considering ways that New Zealand could help those impacted by climate change in the Pacific.

"We're looking for ways to build in the responsibility we have on climate change and the way that we approach, potentially, climate change refugees in the future amongst our neighbours."

Newshub.