Wellington, Mar 22 (IANS): New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and former US President Barack Obama met in Auckland on Thursday and discussed a range of issues, including climate change and the social media.

Obama, who is on a private trip to New Zealand, also gave Ardern, who is expecting her first child, tips on parenthood during the meeting.

"We talked about pressing issues like climate change and a little bit about our agenda here in New Zealand," Ardern said after meeting Obama, Efe news reported.

Ardern said she also asked Obama for "his views on different elements of leadership and also parenthood", adding that he gave her tips that she will "probably long remember".

Obama arrived in New Zealand on Tuesday night and was received at the Government House on Thursday with a traditional Maori welcome.

The former US President began his trip in Singapore and will visit Australia on Friday and Japan over the weekend.