At a time when major Western powers were shifting to the right, Jacinda Ardern's policies made her a global symbol of the left. As her term neared its end, her legacy in her home country became more complex, facing criticism for her government's failure to make progress on promises to reform the housing crisis and reduce emissions significantly. In return, family members sometimes spend more time in their homeland, New Zealand. Speculation emerged that Ardern was considering a permanent move to Australia, following Australian media reports that she, her husband Clarke Gayford, and their seven-year-old daughter Neve attended open home inspections on Sydney's northern beaches. The potential move of this prominent family to Australia has sparked outrage in New Zealand, which is experiencing record numbers of citizens leaving the country due to a weak economy, high cost of living, and rising unemployment. Over 60% of them have moved to Australia, where the average weekly income is higher, and New Zealand citizens have rights to work and reside. A spokesperson for the former prime minister did not provide details on the family's arrival date in Australia or the nature of their work, but noted that it is not uncommon for former leaders to spend time abroad after leaving office. In 2017, Ardern became the world's youngest leader at age 37, making history again as the second woman to give birth while holding an elected office. Over the next six years, her leadership was marked by a series of national and international crises, including the Christchurch mosque attack and the COVID-19 pandemic. Her office told The Guardian: 'The family has been traveling to Australia for a few years now, but at the moment they are residing in Australia where both partners are working.' In January 2023, Ardern announced she would step down as prime minister, saying she no longer had 'enough in the tank.' Since leaving office, Ardern has taken up a fellowship at Harvard University, continued her work on the 'Christchurch Call' project she established to combat online extremism after the Christchurch mosque shooting, and joined the board of Prince William's Earthshot Prize. In 2025, she released her memoirs, shortly after a documentary about her leadership and personal life was featured at the Sundance Film Festival. Amid the ongoing pandemic, a small but vocal anti-vaccination and anti-mandate movement emerged, leading to violent protests at Parliament and threats directed at Ardern.
