Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern and her family are relocating to Australia, her office confirmed Thursday, ending a period of travel following her resignation in 2023. The move comes after reports emerged of Ardern and her husband, Clarke Gayford, viewing properties for sale in Sydney’s northern beaches.
A spokesperson for Ardern stated the family has been travelling for several years and will now base themselves in Australia, citing work opportunities and the benefit of increased travel back to New Zealand. The spokesperson did not specify the nature of Ardern’s work in Australia.
Realestate.com.au reported earlier this month that Ardern and Gayford were seen inspecting homes in Curl Curl and Freshwater, suburbs where the median house price is approximately $4.1 million and $3.9 million respectively. The website noted property values in Curl Curl have increased by 6 percent over the past year.
Ardern’s move follows a period of academic appointments since leaving office. She held fellowships at Harvard Kennedy School in the United States and, in 2025, took up a position as a Distinguished Fellow at Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government. She also released a memoir, “A Different Kind of Power,” and a children’s book, “Mum’s Busy Work.”
Gayford, a television presenter, recently produced a documentary about Ardern’s time as prime minister, titled “Prime Minister.” He has previously spoken about the challenges of finding work in New Zealand’s relatively small television industry.
Last weekend, Ardern was spotted at a community expo in Gerringong, New South Wales, approximately two hours south of Sydney, where she reportedly engaged with attendees and sang the New Zealand national anthem in both Māori and English.
Ardern and Gayford married in January 2024, almost a year after her resignation from Parliament. The couple have one daughter, Neve, who is seven years old. They previously owned a home in Auckland, New Zealand, purchased in 2018.
