Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her long-term partner Clarke Gayford have finally tied the knot in an intimate wedding ceremony on Saturday. The couple got engaged in May 2019 but had to cancel previous wedding plans due to strict COVID-19 restrictions imposed by Ardern during her tenure as prime minister.The private ceremony took place at the Craggy Range Winery in Hawkes Bay on the east coast of New Zealands North Island. Arderns spokesperson confirmed the wedding was attended by 50-75 close friends and family, including current Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and opposition leader Christopher Luxon.Ardern, 43, and Gayford, 47, originally planned to marry in early 2022 but postponed due to New Zealands tough pandemic response under Arderns leadership. Her go hard, go early approach was credited with keeping the countrys COVID deaths remarkably low.The former prime minister, who led New Zealand from 2017 to 2022, became an icon for progressive politics and women leaders worldwide. She made history by taking her infant daughter to a United Nations meeting, as one of only two national leaders to have a child while in office.Hawkes Bay, located about 190 miles north of capital Wellington, is known for its world-class wineries and is a major horticultural region.Since stepping down as PM last January, Ardern has been undertaking academic fellowships at Harvard University.She also serves as a trustee for Prince Williams Earthshot Prize and a special envoy for the Christchurch Call, a network Ardern launched to combat online extremism after the 2019 Christchurch terror attack that targeted Muslims.
