Americans have warmed to 'working-mum' Jacinda Ardern - correspondent

Americans have warmed to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's modern "working-mum" persona, US entertainment correspondent Sam Rubin says. 

As the Prime Minister sets off to New York on Sunday for the United Nations General Assembly, she will be well-received, says Rubin, telling The AM Show on Friday Ms Ardern is "regarded here incredibly highly". 

"I think this is all a positive. I think she's regarded here incredibly highly: young, modern, the whole working-mum thing - everything," he said. 

"This is the typical American experience - we don't know her well, but what we know of her, everybody seems to really, really like."

Ms Ardern will have a jam-packed schedule during her time in New York, including making an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The CBS late night series averaged 3.2 million viewers for one week in August.  

"I think Colbert will be very warm and receptive to her. It's not like when the last guy went on Letterman and it all kind of blew up," Rubin said, referring to former Prime Minister John Key's 2009 appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman

Mr Key had to read out 10 reasons for visiting New Zealand, prepared by the show's writers. Apart from a risky promise to personally pick up tourists at the airport, they gave him an easy ride, but some described the episode as awkward. 

During her visit to New York, Ms Ardern will also meet with UN Goodwill Ambassador Anne Hathaway, be interviewed by CNN's Christiane Amanpour, and take part in a New York Times panel on women and leadership, among other commitments. 

"Opening week of the [United Nations] General Assembly is the largest gathering of world leaders on the international calendar," Ms Ardern said.

"It's a chance to advance New Zealand's interests on the world stage, reconnect with partners and forge new alliances."

Newshub.