Clarke Gayford


Clarke Timothy Gayford is a New Zealand radio and television broadcaster, presenter of the fishing documentary show Fish of the Day. He is the partner and fiancé of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Education and career

Gayford was raised on a farm outside Gisborne. From the age of 11 he boarded at Palmerston North Boys' High School. In 1995, he matriculated at Otago University to study for a Bachelor of Arts, before transferring to the New Zealand Broadcasting School in Christchurch. While studying at broadcasting school, Gayford successfully pitched student-life show Cow TV to Dunedin's Channel 9.
In 1999, Gayford appeared as a contestant on Treasure Island, a reality television game show. In 2003, he began broadcasting on the C4 music channel, presenting youth programmes. In 2010, Gayford presented the third season of Extraordinary Kiwis, a biographical documentary series. Gayford also presented several radio shows, including morning and afternoon drive time shows on More FM and George FM, respectively.
In 2015, with producer Mike Bhana, Gayford created fishing show Fish of the Day, for Choice TV. The documentary series is also broadcast on National Geographic Channel, and has screened in over 35 countries.
He made a guest appearance as himself in the first season 2 episode of Wellington Paranormal.

Personal life

Gayford is the eldest of three siblings. He is the partner of Jacinda Ardern; the couple began dating in 2013. In August 2017, Ardern was elected as Leader of the Labour Party and, following a general election, she became prime minister on 26 October 2017. Gayford has been referred to as the spouse of the prime minister, although the couple are unmarried. He has accompanied Ardern on international visits, including the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, UK.
On 19 January 2018, it was announced that the couple were expecting their first child in June. Their daughter Neve Te Aroha was born on 21 June at 4:45 pm in Auckland City Hospital.
In May 2019, it was reported that he and Ardern were engaged to be married.