Jacinda Ardern said she "deliberated over quite some length" about the extra cost for her travel to the Pacific Island Forum due to her baby being unable to accompany her to Nauru.
Newstalk ZB reported the RNZAF VIP jet would cost an estimated $50,000 to fly back from Nauru Wednesday, to bring the Prime Minister to the Pacific Island Forum for a shorter period.
Ms Ardern was not able to stay for the entire duration of the forum as her baby Neve was not immunised for the trip and could not go with her.
"She would not have all the immunisations required to travel with me," Ms Ardern told media today.
"The other option was for me to not attend at all but given the importance we place on our relationships with the Pacific Islands and the reset, that equally didn't feel like an option."
She said she asked officials what extra costs she would be imposing.
Ms Ardern was told the jet was unable to stay on Nauru as it needed to make room for other planes, and it would be "taking up its hours somewhere else anyway".
"This is a unique set of circumstances. I don't anticipate being in this situation again."
Ms Ardern said it was important for her to attend the event, and that she would be raising the issue of asylum seekers and refugees on Nauru.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters arrived in Nauru today.
Ms Ardern did not know the extra cost of using the plane to fly back to New Zealand.
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