Dame Jacinda Ardern, the former prime minister of New Zealand, has relocated with her family to Australia, confirming a notable personal and regional development as she bases herself and her household there for work and family considerations.

Ardern, her husband Clarke Gayford and their seven-year-old daughter Neve had spent recent years abroad, including in the United States where Ardern engaged in academic roles, but a spokesperson said they are now "basing themselves out of Australia" and have work commitments there while also enabling more frequent visits back to New Zealand.

Reports of the move emerged after the family was seen viewing properties in Sydney’s northern beaches, including in Curl Curl and Freshwater, where residential prices are among the higher end of the local market.

Ardern’s decision comes amid a broader context of New Zealand citizens relocating to Australia, drawn by perceived economic and professional opportunities and facilitated by longstanding trans-Tasman arrangements that allow New Zealanders to live and work freely across the two countries.

Since her resignation as prime minister in January 2023 — a decision she attributed to personal exhaustion after leading New Zealand through successive national and global crises — Ardern has maintained a high profile internationally, holding fellowships at Harvard University, contributing to global initiatives on issues such as online safety and climate, and releasing a memoir titled A Different Kind of Power.

The move to Australia aligns with her continued engagement on international and regional platforms while remaining connected to New Zealand. The relocation of the former prime minister adds a high-profile figure to the ongoing flow of New Zealanders who choose to live in Australia, reflecting enduring social and economic ties between the neighbouring countries.

Ardern’s spokesperson underscored that the family’s move is motivated by professional opportunities and the ability to more easily balance time spent internationally and back home in New Zealand.