Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tied the knot with her longtime partner Clarke Gayford in a private wedding ceremony in the picturesque Hawke’s Bay region. After almost five years of engagement, the couple finally said their “I dos” at a luxury vineyard located 200 miles away from the country’s capital, Wellington.
The guest list for the wedding was limited to only close friends, family members, and a few former lawmaker colleagues, including Ardern’s successor and former prime minister Chris Hipkins. However, the ceremony wasn’t without its share of controversy. Prior to the event, a small group of protesters gathered outside the venue, displaying anti-vaccination posters.
Ardern and Gayford’s love story began in 2014, and they got engaged five years later. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, their plans for a wedding had to be postponed. Throughout her tenure as prime minister, Ardern earned international recognition for her remarkable leadership, particularly during the nation’s worst-ever mass shooting and the initial stages of the pandemic. Notably, she became the second elected world leader to give birth while in office and even brought her infant daughter to the United Nations General Assembly.
Ardern’s government implemented strict COVID-19 mandates, which garnered both support and opposition from the public. In January 2023, she announced her resignation as prime minister, explaining that she lacked the necessary energy to fulfill her duties adequately, especially during an election year.
Since stepping down, Ardern has taken on temporary roles at Harvard University and has been actively involved in combating online extremism. In recognition of her unwavering dedication and achievements, she was recently honored with one of New Zealand’s highest accolades, being made a Dame Grand Companion.
As Ardern embarks on this new chapter of her life with Gayford by her side, her legacy as a progressive leader and advocate for change continues to inspire people both within and beyond New Zealand’s borders.
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