Jacinda Ardern praises her fiance, Clarke and her ‘wonderful village’ for helping to raise two-year-old daughter, Neve

She might be the Prime Minister of New Zealand but first and foremost, Jacinda Ardern is a mum. Jacinda and her fiancé, Clarke Gayford share two-year-old daughter, Neve.

Jacinda, 40 has just shared a rare insight into motherhood and how she manages the work-life juggle as she praises her partner and her mum for all that they do.

Alongside an image of a packed lunchbox with her daughter’s name, Neve Te Aroha written in texta across the front, Jacinda writes:

“Clarke was up early this morning. When I came out to the kitchen I found this – a lunch box he labelled for Neve with it all packed and ready. While I’ve been off campaigning, he’s been parenting (with a helping hand from my mum when he is working too.) This is just an appreciation post I guess. It takes a village, and I have a wonderful one.”

Jacinda gave birth to Neve when she was about eight months into her role as New Zealand’s PM and she has been open about how she manages motherhood and her career.

“It gives me a huge amount of empathy for all mums – whether you’re a working mum or a stay-at-home mum … especially if you’re a solo mum,” Jacinda told the Australian Women’s Weekly in 2019.

In the interview, Jacinda said she has loved watching her daughter grow up.

“it’s one of the things I’ve found most rewarding about this year is that she’s just developed … she’s her own little person. And that’s really lovely; you see snippets of who she’s going to be, and she’s curious and she’s funny.”

Last month, Clarke, who is a radio and television broadcaster and presenter of the fishing documentary show, Fish of the Day, gave a heartwarming tribute to his not-yet-wife as he introduced her at her party’s re-election campaign and let slip one of her most annoying habits.

“I know it might sound a bit strange but not even once have I seen even privately her celebrate the role,” he began.

Clarke went on to talk about Cabinet papers being read in bed at midnight as “worse than toast crumbs” and the alarm clock tune that will “forever haunt my dreams”.

“Jacinda does not appear to have a ceiling … for her there is so much more to do,” he says.

Clarke also joked that it’s not easy trying to win an argument against the very well-spoken PM.

“I don’t know if you know what it is like to have a disagreement with someone voted the world’s most eloquent leader – it is no easy task.

“Last time at home we had a test of wills, and as usual I soon found myself well and truly out of depth … floundering around. It was pathetic.

“In desperate bid to end it, I announced three new roads and a tunnel.”

In the speech, Clarke also reflected on the change in Jacinda when she found out she was made Prime Minister in 2017.

“From that moment I witnessed profound change in my partner, she moved into a higher gear, and has never for a second stepped back. It is exhilarating, frightening, if I am honest.”