Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern is embracing a new chapter in Australia after quietly moving across the Tasman with her family.
On Sunday, Ardern was spotted enjoying a relaxed outing on Sydney‘s Manly Beach alongside her husband, Clarke Gayford, their seven-year-old daughter Neve, and Ardern’s mother, Laurell.
The family appeared relaxed and comfortable as they strolled along the waterfront. Gayford and Neve later wandered down toward the shoreline, while Ardern stayed nearby with her mother, soaking up the warm beachside atmosphere.
Their appearance follows weeks of speculation about relocation plans, which have now been confirmed as a permanent move.
A spokesperson for Ardern said the family has indeed shifted their base to Australia.
‘The family has been travelling for a few years now,’ they said.
‘For the moment they are basing themselves out of Australia – they have work there, and it brings the added bonus of more time back home in New Zealand.’
The spokesperson said that basing themselves in Australia also gives the family the ‘added bonus’ of being able to spend more time in New Zealand than if they were living elsewhere overseas.
Jacinda Ardern (centre) was spotted sight seeing on Manly Beach with her family on Sunday
Jacinda Ardern (right) was joined by her mother Laurell (left) as the family went for a stroll
Jacinda Ardern (left) was joined by her husband Clarke Gayford (right) and daughter Neve
The spokesperson said that basing themselves in Australia also gives the family the ‘added bonus’ of being able to spend more time in New Zealand than if they were living elsewhere overseas.
Reports had circulated in February that Ardern and Gayford were quietly house-hunting on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
She was reportedly seen inspecting properties in coastal suburbs including Curl Curl and Freshwater, and dining at casual eateries in Dee Why.
The region, known for its sweeping surf beaches and affluent lifestyle, has a typical house price of more than $2.8 million.
It also includes Palm Beach, the picturesque filming location for the long-running Australian series Home and Away.
Ardern’s latest appearance came just hours before she took the stage at the All About Women festival at the Sydney Opera House.
Her appearance, held on International Women’s Day, was billed as an ‘intimate discussion’ with author Jamila Rizvi about Ardern’s political career and her memoir A Different Kind of Power.
Her decision to base herself in Australia places her among a growing wave of New Zealanders moving across the Tasman, with more than 60,000 doing so in 2025 alone.
Ardern (pictured) and her family’s beach outing took place hours before her Opera House talk
A spokesperson for Ardern (pictured) confirmed her family had made the move to Sydney
Ardern (right) and Gayford (left) have been looking at properties on the Northern Beaches
Gayford (right) and the couple’s daughter Neve (left) were seen getting close to the water
Ardern (right) spent periods living in both the UK and the United States before Sydney
Before this transition, Ardern lived a notably low-key life in Auckland’s Mt Albert electorate, remaining the local MP until April 2023 following her resignation as prime minister earlier that year.
She later spent long periods overseas while undertaking prestigious academic and advisory roles, which saw her live in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Her work included fellowships at Harvard and Oxford universities and a position on the Earthshot Prize board, which was founded by Prince William.
Ardern is currently in the midst of a speaking tour, delivering a series of events across Australia.
On Saturday, Ardern took the stage as the guest speaker at a Business Chicks event at Sydney’s International Convention Centre.
She appeared refreshed, sporting a warm summer tan and noticeably lighter hair.
She’s set to appear at the Melbourne Business Chicks event on Tuesday, where tickets for the now sold-out session started at $239 each, with VIP passes priced at $500.
Outside of speaking events, Ardern has also made her way down to the New South Wales south coast.
Ardern (pictured) was sporting a healthy tan and lighter hair while speaking in Sydney
Jacinda Ardern (pictured) will appear in Melbourne on Tuesday for a Business Chicks event
Ardern made an unannounced visit to a community expo in Gerringong last month, a seaside town south of Kiama.
Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald shared the surprise sighting on LinkedIn, writing that he had ‘long admired Jacinda’s leadership style, particularly her clarity, composure and ability to communicate in difficult moments.’
