PM Jacinda Ardern has revealed that Deputy PM Winston Peters will take charge as Acting Prime Minister while she is on maternity leave.  Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has released details of how the running of the country works when she goes on maternity leave and hands the rein to deputy Winston Peters.  In effect, it will be no different to any other time the prime minister is out of the country which automatically renders Peters acting prime minister. But the extended length of time - six weeks Ardern was hoping to take off after giving birth to her first child - heightened the scrutiny of the situation.