{{Short description|New Zealand television presenter (born 1976)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2026}}
{{Infobox person | name = Clarke Gayford | image = Clarke Gayford 2021 (cropped).jpg | alt = | caption = Gayford in 2021 | birth_name = Clarke Timothy Gayford | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1976|10}}<ref name=Observer/> | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Broadcaster | known_for = Partner of the Prime Minister of New Zealand | party = | spouse = {{marriage|[[Jacinda Ardern]]|2024}} | children = 1 | signature = }} '''Clarke Timothy Gayford'''<ref>{{cite news |title=Prior to dating the PM Clarke Gayford thought Danger was a 'rad' middle name for a child |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12077430 |accessdate=25 June 2018 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=25 June 2018}}</ref> (born October 1976) is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster, presenter of the fishing documentary show ''Fish of the Day''. He is the husband of [[Jacinda Ardern]], who served as [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|prime minister of New Zealand]] from October 2017 to January 2023.
==Early life, education and career== Gayford was born in October 1976<ref name=Observer>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/26/clarke-gayford-jacinda-ardern-new-zealand|title=Clarke Gayford on fatherhood, food and fending off sharks|newspaper=[[The Observer]]|date=26 May 2018|first=Mark|last=Broatch}}</ref> and grew up at a farm outside [[Gisborne, New Zealand|Gisborne]].<ref name="nzonscreen">{{cite web|title=Clarke Gayford|url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/person/clarke-gayford/biography|website=[[NZ On Screen]]|accessdate=24 April 2018 }}</ref> He is the eldest of three siblings.<ref name="Knight">{{cite news|last1=Knight|first1=Kim|title=Clarke Gayford: Jacinda Ardern is the best thing that's ever happened to me|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11674545|accessdate=24 April 2018|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=17 July 2016|language=en-NZ}}</ref> From the age of 11, he boarded at [[Palmerston North Boys' High School]]. In 1995, he matriculated at [[Otago University]], [[Dunedin]], to study for a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree, before transferring to the New Zealand Broadcasting School in [[Christchurch]].<ref name="nzonscreen"/> After he graduated from broadcasting school, Gayford successfully pitched student-life show ''Cow TV'' (1999) to [[Channel 39 (New Zealand)|Dunedin's Channel 9]].<ref>{{cite web|title=COW TV|url=http://www.channel39.co.nz/content/cow-tv|publisher=Channel 39|accessdate=24 April 2018|language=en|date=5 January 2011}}</ref><ref name="Stuff">{{cite news|title=Who is Jacinda Ardern's TV presenter partner Clarke Gayford?|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/celebrities/95358661|accessdate=24 April 2018|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]|date=2 August 2017|language=en}}</ref>
In 1999, Gayford appeared as a contestant on ''[[Treasure Island (show)|Treasure Island]]'',<ref name="nzonscreen"/> a reality television game show. In 2003, he began broadcasting on the [[C4 (New Zealand TV channel)|C4]] music television channel, presenting youth programmes. In 2010, Gayford presented the third season of ''Extraordinary Kiwis'', a biographical documentary series.<ref name="nzonscreen"/> Gayford also presented several radio shows, including morning and afternoon [[drive time]] shows on [[More FM]] and [[George FM]], respectively.<ref name="Stuff"/>
In 2015, with producer Mike Bhana, Gayford created fishing show ''Fish of the Day'', for [[Choice TV]].<ref name="nzonscreen"/><ref name="Knight"/> The documentary series is also broadcast on [[National Geographic Channel]], and has screened in over 35 countries.<ref name="nzonscreen"/> In 2021 Gayford hosted the television show ''Moving Houses''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkes |first=Colleen |date=2021-12-12 |title=Clarke Gayford on Moving Houses: 'The points of drama are not forced; they all happened.' |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/latest/127256111/clarke-gayford-on-moving-houses-the-points-of-drama-are-not-forced-they-all-happened |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> He made a guest appearance as himself in the first season 2 episode of ''[[Wellington Paranormal]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ramsey|first=Teresa|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/116613443/clarke-gayford-makes-cameo-appearance-on-wellington-paranormal|title=Clarke Gayford makes cameo appearance on Wellington Paranormal|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]|date=16 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101213104/https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/116613443/clarke-gayford-makes-cameo-appearance-on-wellington-paranormal|archive-date=1 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Harvey |first1=Megan |title=Clarke Gayford features in Wellington Paranormal's season two |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/clarke-gayford-features-in-wellington-paranormals-season-two/WGF6VZ7MGNUAMBQE653FUJCRNE/ |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411015119/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/clarke-gayford-features-in-wellington-paranormals-season-two/WGF6VZ7MGNUAMBQE653FUJCRNE/ |archive-date=11 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Views and public image== In mid-April 2020 during the first year of [[COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand|COVID-19 pandemic]], Gayford appeared on a short ''[[Wellington Paranormal]]'' video encouraging people who were looking after young children. In response, [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]] [[Member of Parliament]] [[Brett Hudson (politician)|Brett Hudson]] expressed concerns during an Epidemic Response Committee meeting in early May 2020 that the video risked politicising the [[New Zealand Police]]. Police Commissioner [[Andrew Coster]] defended Gayford's presence on the grounds that he was a well-known television personality who had participated in the television series.<ref>{{cite news |title=Police Commissioner questioned over Clarke Gayford video |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/police-commissioner-questioned-over-clarke-gayford-video |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=1 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315225825/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/police-commissioner-questioned-over-clarke-gayford-video |archive-date=15 March 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 12 March 2021, Gayford attracted media attention when he posted a tweet stating that the [[New Zealand Cabinet]] had made an "in principle decision" pending final test results in relation to the lifting of a COVID-19 Alert Level 2 lockdown in Auckland. In response, his partner Prime Minister Ardern stated that Gayford had not been briefed on Cabinet's "preliminary decision" to move Auckland to Alert Level 1 that day.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Deguara |first1=Brittney |title=Covid-19: 'Not at all true': Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern rejects claim fiance Clarke Gayford knew alert levels decision ahead of announcement |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/124520884/covid19-not-at-all-true-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-rejects-claim-fiance-clarke-gayford-knew-alert-levels-decision-ahead-of-announcement |access-date=13 March 2021 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=12 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313031748/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/124520884/covid19-not-at-all-true-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-rejects-claim-fiance-clarke-gayford-knew-alert-levels-decision-ahead-of-announcement|archive-date=13 March 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Barry Soper on Clarke Gayford's controversial alert level tweet |url=https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/barry-soper-clarke-gayfords-tweet-and-governments-handling-of-alert-level-move/ |access-date=13 March 2021 |work=[[Newstalk ZB]] |date=12 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313032011/https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/barry-soper-clarke-gayfords-tweet-and-governments-handling-of-alert-level-move/ |archive-date=13 March 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
Gayford said in a "scathing review"<ref>{{Cite web |title='Was there a single new idea?': Clarke Gayford rubbishes John Key comments |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/was-there-a-single-new-idea-clarke-gayford-rubbishes-john-key-comments-on-the-governments-covid-19-response/FMDIWABJF34HPGKA364YLZWOEU/ |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> of an article written by former prime minister [[John Key|Sir John Key]] in September 2021:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Key |first=Sir John |date=2021-09-25 |title=Sir John Key: We need to break free of the hermit kingdom and stop ruling by fear on Covid-19 |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/300414808/sir-john-key-we-need-to-break-free-of-the-hermit-kingdom-and-stop-ruling-by-fear-on-covid19 |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> "It was such a shame that the name slinging [and] use of disinformation divided his contribution into partisan politics."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clarke Gayford accuses Sir John Key of 'name slinging', Covid 'disinformation' |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/09/29/clarke-gayford-accuses-sir-john-key-of-name-slinging-covid-disinformation/ |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=1 News |language=en}}</ref>
In mid-January 2022 amid COVID Deltacron variant surging in New Zealand, Gayford drew controversy after speaking to a pharmacist in December 2021 about obtaining [[rapid antigen test]]ing for several musician friends. Gayford had claimed that there had been a change to testing guidance from New Zealand [[Ministry of Health (New Zealand)|Health Ministry]] that would allow them to obtain rapid antigen testing instead of the more invasive [[polymerase chain reaction]] testing. Gayford was criticised by National Party's COVID-19 Response spokesperson [[Chris Bishop]] for allegedly using his position as the Prime Minister's partner to obtain special favours for his friends. Gayford subsequently apologised for "any issues or confusion" this created for pharmacy staff.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sadler |first1=Rachel |title=Coronavirus: Chris Bishop hits out at Clarke Gayford's 'deeply inappropriate' alleged bid to get rapid antigen tests for musician mates |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/01/coronavirus-chris-bishop-hits-out-at-clarke-gayford-s-deeply-inappropriate-alleged-bid-to-get-rapid-antigen-tests-for-musician-mates.html |access-date=14 January 2022 |work=[[Newshub]] |date=12 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114105611/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/01/coronavirus-chris-bishop-hits-out-at-clarke-gayford-s-deeply-inappropriate-alleged-bid-to-get-rapid-antigen-tests-for-musician-mates.html |archive-date=14 January 2022|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McCulloch |first1=Craig |title=PM tight-lipped on Clarke Gayford's apology over rapid antigen tests |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/459492/pm-tight-lipped-on-clarke-gayford-s-apology-over-rapid-antigen-tests |access-date=14 January 2022 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113213404/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/459492/pm-tight-lipped-on-clarke-gayford-s-apology-over-rapid-antigen-tests |archive-date=13 January 2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Coughlan |first1=Thomas |title='Deeply inappropriate': Clarke Gayford sorry for 'confusion' after claim he tried to get mate rapid Covid test |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/deeply-inappropriate-clarke-gayford-sorry-for-confusion-after-claim-he-tried-to-get-mate-rapid-covid-test/BERMJTAVSMBW756EZLHP56PCVA/ |access-date=14 January 2022 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112192020/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/deeply-inappropriate-clarke-gayford-sorry-for-confusion-after-claim-he-tried-to-get-mate-rapid-covid-test/BERMJTAVSMBW756EZLHP56PCVA/ |archive-date=12 January 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Personal life== Gayford was previously in relationships with musician [[Hollie Smith]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hollie Smith on her musical journey and the inspiration behind her new album |url=https://womanmagazine.co.nz/nz-women/hollie-smith-musical-journey-inspiration-new-album |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=womanmagazine.co.nz |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-07-21 |title=The best man for the job |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/blogs/the-girls-guide/2266387/The-best-man-for-the-job |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Coming In From The Dark: Hollie Smith talks hope, grief and the 'coven' of female singers helping her survive lockdown |language=en |work=[[Newshub]] |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2021/10/coming-in-from-the-dark-hollie-smith-talks-hope-grief-and-the-coven-of-female-singers-helping-her-survive-lockdown.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119202658/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2021/10/coming-in-from-the-dark-hollie-smith-talks-hope-grief-and-the-coven-of-female-singers-helping-her-survive-lockdown.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 November 2021 |access-date=2022-04-29}}</ref> and ''[[Shortland Street]]'' actress [[Shavaughn Ruakere]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Donna |title=Shavaughn Ruakere and Clarke Gayford's special celebration |date= 2013-03-25 |url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/celeb-news/shavaughn-ruakere-and-clarke-gayfords-special-celebration-2635 |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=Now To Love |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Shavaughn: Out of the blue |date= 2014-08-15 |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/shavaughn-ruakere-out-of-the-blue/X2DMIKZWSBU2XXYQRVV65IJDTA/ |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref>
Gayford and [[Jacinda Ardern]] began dating in 2013.<ref name="Stuff" /> In August 2017, Ardern was elected as the [[Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party|leader]] of [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party]] after the general election, and she became [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|prime minister]] on 26 October of the same year.<ref name="Stuff" /> Gayford had been referred to as the [[Spouse of the prime minister of New Zealand|''spouse'' of the prime minister]], although the couple were not married at the time. He accompanied Ardern on international visits, including the [[2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting]] in [[London]], UK.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jacobi|first1=Stephen|title=PM's London visit not just 'pure nostalgia'|url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/355715/pm-s-london-visit-not-just-pure-nostalgia|accessdate=24 April 2018|work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=22 April 2018|language=en-nz}}</ref>
On 19 January 2018, Ardern announced that she and Gayford were expecting their first child in June.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11978029 |title= Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces pregnancy |date=19 January 2018 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |accessdate=24 April 2018}}</ref> Their daughter, Neve, was born on 21 June at 4:45 pm in [[Auckland City Hospital]].<ref>{{cite news |title=It's a girl! Jacinda Ardern gives birth to her first child|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/06/it-s-a-girl-jacinda-ardern-gives-birth-to-her-first-child.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621093641/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/06/it-s-a-girl-jacinda-ardern-gives-birth-to-her-first-child.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 June 2018 |accessdate=21 June 2018 |work=[[Newshub]] |date=21 June 2018}}</ref>
In May 2019, it was reported that he and Ardern were engaged to be married.<ref>{{cite news |title=Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern engaged to partner Clarke Gayford |url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/388405/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-engaged-to-partner-clarke-gayford |accessdate=3 May 2019 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=3 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford engaged |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12227668 |accessdate=3 May 2019 |newspaper=[[New Zealand Herald]] |date=3 May 2019}}</ref> The wedding, scheduled for early 2022, was postponed due to the highly transmissible [[COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand|COVID-19]] [[SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant|Delta]][[SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant|cron]] hybrid variant.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-60100369|title=Covid: New Zealand PM Ardern postpones wedding amid COVID surge|date=January 23, 2022|publisher=BBC}}</ref> On 8 May 2022, Gayford tested positive for [[COVID-19]], for which he experienced "very mild" symptoms. As a result, he, Ardern, and their daughter went into self-isolation for seven days.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cooke |first1=Henry |title=Covid-19 NZ: Jacinda Ardern isolating at home as partner Clarke Gayford infected |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300582798/covid19-nz-jacinda-ardern-isolating-at-home-as-partner-clarke-gayford-infected |access-date=8 May 2022 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=8 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508111856/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300582798/covid19-nz-jacinda-ardern-isolating-at-home-as-partner-clarke-gayford-infected |archive-date=8 May 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> On 14 May that year, Ardern and Neve both tested positive for virus, with both experiencing "very mild" symptoms.<ref>{{cite news |title=Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tests positive for Covid-19 |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/467080/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-tests-positive-for-covid-19 |access-date=14 May 2022 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=14 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514152830/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/467080/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-tests-positive-for-covid-19 |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 13 January 2024, Gayford and Ardern were married at a private ceremony.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 January 2024 |title=Jacinda Ardern marries partner Clarke Gayford in private ceremony |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-67967235 |access-date=14 January 2024 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0310869|Clarke Gayford}} * [http://fishoftheday.tv/ Fish of the Day – TV series]
{{s-start}} {{s-hon}} {{s-bef|before=Mary English}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Spouse of the Prime Minister of New Zealand|Partner of the Prime Minister of New Zealand]]|years=2017–2023}} {{s-aft|after=Jade Hipkins}} {{s-end}}
{{Jacinda Ardern}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gayford, Clarke}} [[Category:1976 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:New Zealand radio presenters]] [[Category:New Zealand television presenters]] [[Category:People educated at Palmerston North Boys' High School]] [[Category:People from Gisborne, New Zealand]] [[Category:Spouses of prime ministers of New Zealand]]