Photos of the Speaker of New Zealand’s parliament, Trevor Mallard, feeding a lawmaker’s baby on the floor of the chamber has garnered diverse reactions on Twitter.

Mallard held and fed the one-month-old son of lawmaker Tāmati Coffey who just returned from paternity leave while presiding over a debate.

Mallard had shared the photo on his Twitter handle with the caption, “Normally the Speaker’s chair is only used by Presiding Officers but today a VIP took the chair with me.

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“Congratulations @tamaticoffey and Tim on the newest member of your family.”

While some Twitteratti were quick to praise the Speaker for being thoughtful a few think it was unprofessional to bring a child to the plenary since it’s not a “daycare centre.”

Normally the Speaker’s chair is only used by Presiding Officers but today a VIP took the chair with me. Congratulations @tamaticoffey and Tim on the newest member of your family. pic.twitter.com/47ViKHsKkA

— Trevor Mallard (@SpeakerTrevor) August 21, 2019

See some comments:

Lovely to have a baby in the House, and what a beautiful one @tamaticoffey pic.twitter.com/EP6iP9eQES

— Gareth Hughes (@GarethMP) August 21, 2019

New Zealand….you might be a small country, but you have a huge lesson to teach the world! Great photo!

— ?Beau Beau (@TBeaubeau) August 21, 2019

Exposing an infant to noisy political voices and feeding him amidst all the politically charged air that the infant is breathing is worthy of congratulations? He deserves normal infancy for God’s sake! The is not gonna impact the brain of d infant in a right way.

— kashif Qureshi (@kashiflion) August 22, 2019

Seriously this pic is the best pic of 2019.. an example that common people and politicians are same. We all are human being and we should follow such kind of emotions and love in our lives.

— vidit patil (@viditpatil) August 22, 2019

Dear NZ, we’re feeling a bit broken by the quality of our public figures at the moment in comparison to yours.. Please feel free to come invade whilst our warships are off fighting Trunp’s battles for him. We are very willing to become the West Island.
Love, Australia

— Diana (@dianainoz2) August 21, 2019

Can you please buy the United States of America? I’m sure our president would sell.. much rather have u guys then him.. also are u available to babysit for my monster lol ♥️♥️ pic.twitter.com/jLOrU0X2Cu

— ❄?Jen Fanton?❄ (@fionanme) August 22, 2019

i think sir u should do it https://t.co/mGkVtgEBbD peopl come for work . Not for showing personal and appriciation.

— Shahidshaikh (@shahid828672878) August 22, 2019

Keep this up and all the new parents of New Zealand will be dropping our babies off to Parliament! I’ve already put you on my list of people who look like a steady pair of baby-minding hands when I need them. Congratulations @tamaticoffey I’m so thrilled for you.

— Marianne Elliott (@zenpeacekeeper) August 21, 2019

Great gesture Mr Speaker. That’s what makes your country so special. Please protect your values, ethos and practices from evil thoughts and actions of those who do not approve of such decency and civility.

— Jitendra Kumar Ojha (@Jitendra68kumar) August 22, 2019

Just saw this in the UK and never wanted a foreign Speaker so much! Trevor mate, I am speechless. That is the most beautiful thing I’ve seen in years. I wish you and your family and your little one absolute joy. ?????

— Iain Lees (@eliesian) August 21, 2019

Dear New Zealanders??,

You guys are so lucky to have such compassionate public representatives. Jealous! Can you send us your Speaker after his term is over? ?

(And I would like to cuddle that baby too!! ☺)

Love,
India??.

— Nilanjan Das | নীলাঞ্জন দাস (@_NilanjanDas) August 22, 2019

This is the real nanny state. Good on ya.

— Jeremy Elwood (@JeremyElwood) August 21, 2019

That would never happen in America; who would let @senatemajldr hold their baby? He’d probably sell it.

— Ivana B. Seddated (@sbrtvsnrk) August 22, 2019