Jacinda Ardern to marry Clarke Gayford this weekend: Here's everything you need ... trends now
Jacinda Ardern will marry her long-time partner Clarke Gayford at a luxury New Zealand venue on Saturday after several years of delays and cancellations.
The pair are yet to tie the knot as the former New Zealand Prime Minister dealt with a string of tragedies, including the horror Christchurch terror attack, the White Island volcano eruption and the coronavirus pandemic.
Just a year after the couple were engaged at Easter in 2019, Ardern's government put in place Covid-19 restrictions came into force which reduced gatherings to 100 people.
As a result, they were forced to cancel plans to wed at the luxury rural estate Nick's Head Station, located 25km south of Gisborne, in the summer of 2022.
Ms Ardern, 43, and Mr Gayford, 47, first met at an awards ceremony in 2012, but they did not begin dating until 2014 after Mr Gayford, contacted the then-Labour politician about proposed legislation in 2013.
Jacinda Ardern will marry her long-time partner Clarke Gayford at an elite venue on Saturday after several years of delays and cancellations (the pair are pictured in January, 2023)
She arranged to meet Clarke to discuss the issue over coffee.
Before long the pair realised they had an awful lot in common, including a shared love of music and previous experience turning tables as DJs. They became friends, before their relationship began to blossom into something more.
In an interview with Woman's Weekly, Clarke revealed he took the politician on a fishing trip on their first date so he could share his biggest passion with her - and he realised he had met his match when she reeled in a 5.4kg snapper.
He said: 'The sea was glass flat and we had a huge pod of dolphins join us. It was literally Jacinda's first cast and she was like, 'Ooh! Something's pulling!'
'She pulled in a 5.4kg snapper. And she said, 'Is that good?' And I was like, 'That's real good!''
The couple grew closer as they bonded over fishing and seafood, with Clarke revealing he wooed her by turning up to her house with crayfish.
They went on to have their daughter Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford in 2018.
Before dating Ms Ardern, Mr Gayford was famous in New Zealand, with various roles in the media as a radio host, DJ and presenter.
Mr Gayford is the current host of 'Fish of the Day,' a series dedicated fishing in the pacific ocean, as well as 'Moving Houses,' a show that revolves around the process of relocating houses.
He has continued to work in the media throughout his relationship with Ms Ardern.
New Zealand singer and Grammy winner Lorde, who is considered a close friend of the couple, was booked to perform at the ceremony.
UK hitmaker Ed Sheeran said he would make himself available for the nuptials as he described Ms Ardern as the 'best human on the planet'.
'Such is life,' the former prime minister said of their decision to call off the wedding.
'My wedding will not be going ahead, but I just join many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic.
'I am no different to, dare I say, thousands of other New Zealanders.'
Local media has reported the rescheduled ceremony
