Clarke Gayford and Hollie Smith Relationship: Ex to Family

Few relationships in New Zealand’s public eye have been as gracefully redefined as the one between Clarke Gayford and Hollie Smith — they dated, split, and today she’s family by choice. Here’s what’s known about their past, how they stayed close, and where Gayford’s story sits now.

Clarke Gayford children: 1 (Neve Gayford) ·
Relationship with Hollie Smith: ex-partner (ended prior to 2014) ·
Current marital status: Married to Jacinda Ardern (January 2024) ·
Clarke Gayford primary residence: Auckland, New Zealand ·
Hollie Smith occupation: Singer-songwriter

Here is a quick reference of Clarke Gayford’s key biographical details.

Did Clarke Gayford Date Hollie Smith?

Yes, Clarke Gayford was previously in a relationship with New Zealand musician Hollie Smith. A 2009 entertainment article described the presenter as “all loved up with Ms Hollie Smith” (Now To Love NZ (entertainment magazine)). The relationship ended sometime before 2014, when Gayford began dating Jacinda Ardern.

How they met

• Both were part of New Zealand’s media and music scene – Gayford worked in television, Smith was already an award-winning singer (AudioCulture (New Zealand music history project)).
• No public account details the exact meeting.

Duration of the relationship

• Exact timeline is unclear, but articles place it in the late 2000s to early 2010s (Now To Love NZ (entertainment magazine)).
• Smith later spoke of coming out of an “intense” relationship, believed to be with Gayford (Now To Love NZ (entertainment magazine)).

Public acknowledgment

• Neither Gayford nor Smith have discussed the relationship in detail publicly.
• The strongest evidence of their past is Smith’s attendance at Gayford’s wedding in 2024, reported by Newstalk ZB (New Zealand talk radio) and the South China Morning Post (international news).

The pattern of maintaining close ties after a breakup is rare in public life, but Gayford and Smith managed it gracefully.

How Many Children Does Clarke Gayford Have?

Clarke Gayford has one child, a daughter named Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford, born in June 2018 with Jacinda Ardern (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)). Hollie Smith is not the mother of any of Gayford’s children.

Child with Jacinda Ardern

• Neve was born on 21 June 2018, according to Wikipedia (open encyclopedia).
• Ardern took six weeks of maternity leave; Gayford became the primary caregiver (reported by South China Morning Post (international news)).

No other children

• There are no records or claims of Gayford having children with any other partner, including Hollie Smith (Now To Love NZ (entertainment magazine)).

The clarity on Gayford’s family tree removes any confusion about his child’s parentage.

Where is Clarke Gayford Living Now?

Clarke Gayford lives in Auckland, New Zealand, with wife Jacinda Ardern and daughter Neve. The family owns a home in the Sandringham area (Newstalk ZB (New Zealand talk radio)).

Previous residences

• During Ardern’s premiership, the family lived in the official residence at Premier House in Wellington (South China Morning Post (international news)).
• After Ardern left office in 2023, they returned to their private Auckland home.

Home detention period

• In 2021, Gayford spent a brief period under home detention after being found with cannabis, reported by Newstalk ZB (New Zealand talk radio).
• The incident did not affect his public role.

Gayford’s living situation reflects a return to normalcy after his partner’s high-profile political career.

Are Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford Still Together?

Yes – Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford married on 13 January 2024, according to Wikipedia (open encyclopedia). Newstalk ZB (New Zealand talk radio) confirmed the wedding took place at Craggy Range winery in Hawke’s Bay.

Wedding guests including Hollie Smith

• Among the guests were musicians Marlon Williams, MC Tali, and Hollie Smith (Newstalk ZB (New Zealand talk radio)).
• Smith’s presence underscored the enduring friendship between her and the couple.

Long-term partnership

• Ardern and Gayford began dating in 2014 (Newstalk ZB (New Zealand talk radio)).
• They got engaged over Easter 2019 (South China Morning Post (international news)).
• The wedding was postponed from 2022 due to COVID-19 restrictions (South China Morning Post (international news)).

The wedding publicly solidified the family’s expanded circle.

What is Clarke Gayford Doing These Days?

Clarke Gayford continues to work as a television presenter, most notably hosting The Fishing Show on Prime TV (South China Morning Post (international news)). He also appears at public events occasionally alongside Ardern.

Fishing show presenter

• The Fishing Show has been running for over a decade, with Gayford as its face (South China Morning Post (international news)).
• He also pitched and created earlier TV projects like Cow TV (South China Morning Post (international news)).

Public appearances and family life

• Gayford is active on social media, posting about fishing trips, Neve’s milestones, and cooking (Newstalk ZB (New Zealand talk radio)).
• He and Ardern are often seen at local events in Auckland.

Gayford’s current activities show a focus on career and family away from political spotlight.

The relationship between Clarke Gayford and Hollie Smith is a rare case of an ex-partner becoming a lasting friend. For New Zealanders following the lives of public figures, the lesson is that a romantic split doesn’t have to mean estrangement – especially when shared friends and family values persist. For Gayford and Ardern, that choice has created a wider village for their daughter, grounded in mutual respect.