The last time Dame Jacinda Ardern sold a family home was in 2018, when she was heavily pregnant, and less than six months into her new job as Prime Minister of New Zealand.
The agent who sold the property told the New Zealand Herald the house on Moa Road in Auckland's Point Chevalier had been snapped up by a "nice Kiwi family". Ardern and her now-husband Clarke Gayford didn't advertise the home on the open market. Rather, they trusted the agent to find a buyer from his database. The result was $1.32m - $333,000 more than Ardern paid for it in 2016.
The reason for the sale? Ardern and Gayford had a baby on the way, and like many young professional couples, they were looking to upgrade to a bigger home.
They had found a four-bedroom bungalow on a quiet street in neighbouring Sandringham. It was close to Westfield St Lukes, Eden Park, a good primary school, several parks and playgrounds, and a swag of good cafes and restaurants on Dominion Road - important for when you're out with the stroller.
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The couple paid $1.74 million for the property, just under the 2017 RV. The Bayleys listing at the time described the 1930s-era home as a bungalow haven, with three double bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen, a study, a dining and family room and a master bedroom with an ensuite. The garden boasted a large deck, subtropical plantings and a treehouse.
Ardern and Gayford bought their home in Auckland's Sandringham in 2018 for just over $1.7m. Photo / Supplied
Ardern with singer Ed Sheeran. Ardern and Gayford have hosted several celebrities at the Sandringham bungalow. Photo / Instagram, Jacinda Ardern
The four-bedroom home has an RV of $2.3m and has been stylishly staged. Photo / Supplied
The house hasn't changed much since the couple took possession. In their listing for the home, which generated news headlines around the world when it went live this week, Ray White agents Tim Hawes and Nathan Karpik highlight many of the same features that were sales points in 2018.
"Behind a crisp white fence on one of Sandringham's prettiest streets, this timeless 1930s bungalow introduces itself with traditional weatherboard charm and a welcoming front porch," they write.
"The clever layout offers a superb balance of togetherness and quiet retreat across four bedrooms and multiple living spaces. At the rear, the light-washed master suite and lounge serve as a calming sanctuary, serviced by a freshly updated ensuite.
"Entertaining is effortless, with social spaces extending outward in every direction. French doors open from the kitchen and dining area onto a sheltered central deck perfect for the daily rhythm of family life.
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"This private, fully fenced backyard is an oasis of mature greenery, complete with a third patio next to a solid concrete-block garden studio that is ready for hobbies or storage.
"Secure electronic gates open to generous off-street parking for multiple vehicles, leaving you to simply move in, unpack, and enjoy an enchanting slice of a tightly held neighbourhood."
When OneRoof turned up for the second open home, there were plenty of shoes on the porch (20-plus at a rough count) and young families were exploring the home's many nooks, opening cupboards and trying to imagine how they'd fit in. Some had brought their parents with them, helpful for securing that "bank of mum and dad" finance, or for soothing grumpy babies while they checked out the bathrooms and kitchen.
Some knew the house had some star power, but I'd guess everyone except me was there because they were in the market to buy. They looked like Ardern and Gayford must have when they toured the property in 2018.
The extension, which comprises the main living area and the master suite, enjoys plenty of sun. Photo / Supplied
The listing for the property say it is "perfect for the daily rhythm of family life". Photo / Supplied
It's hard to assess a family bungalow like this one when you know it's the former Prime Minister's house, and it has provided a cuppa and some scones to the likes of Ed Sheeran, Stephen Colbert and Hillary Barry. Like most homes for sale right now, it has its weaknesses and strengths, and those will vary depending on who's looking.
The house itself was staged, and I’d guess that Ardern and her family haven't been there for some time, given her extended stint in the US at Harvard following her resignation as Prime Minister at the start of 2023. The family is now in Sydney, and is reportedly looking for a home in the city's Northern Beaches, where prices are much higher, although the market has started to cool, a plus for buyers.
There were some vestiges of family life before the Sandringham house was readied for market - a few picture hooks without pictures and a concrete block garden studio that has Gayford written all over it (not literally, although the white board hanging on the wall did have "Rock" and "Wife" scribbled down).
I did notice security cameras around the outside, but nothing outrageous, or indeed suggested that a Prime Minister and her family used to live here. It was pretty low-key and down-to-earth, much like Ardern herself.
Agents not involved in the sale say there is strong demand for four-bedroom homes in the suburb. Photo / Supplied
The master bedroom has an ensuite. The laundry is in the main bathroom at the front of the house. Photo / Supplied
The kitchen has seen a lot of scones in its time. Photo / Supplied
Either side of the home were upgraded villas, and the street itself had a nice, sunny Sunday morning vibe. I imagine lots of young families can picture themselves living here, although not all. A couple I approached after the open home weren't that fussed. They knew it was the former Prime Minister's home, but they felt it was "average". On the other hand, other families leaving the house seemed pretty animated, liking what they saw there.
How the house will fare at auction next month is another question. The overall Auckland housing market has been in a bit of a funk right now. The city's average property value is 2.5% below last year's level, according to the latest OneRoof figures, while in Sandringham, house values are down 5.4% over the same period.
At the same time, research by interest.co.nz found that only 30% of the 186 Auckland properties that went to auction in the seven days from June 20 ended up selling under the hammer. In Canterbury, the clearance rate was 50%.
However, agents told OneRoof earlier this week that there was a shortage of good four-bedroom, two-bathroom properties in the Sandringham-Mount Eden area.
“We routinely have very good numbers for these [four-bed, two-bath] properties. They seem to be in hot demand at the moment,” Ray white Mount Eden owner Jared Cooksley, who is not involved in the sale, said.
He said many buyers tossing up whether or not to renovate their own homes often looked at what was for sale and decided to buy something already done instead. “They’re motivated by family situation, rather than market dynamics.”
He said the sweet spot in this area was properties at or just under the $2m mark (Ardern's property has an RV of $2.3m).
Ray White agent Robyn Ellson, who is also not involved in the sale, said: “It probably hits the sweet spot in the market in terms of what people want. A well-presented, character bungalow, north-facing. It’s got a nice look to it; it should perform well.”
* OneRoof has chosen not to publish the address or link to the listing to protect the privacy and safety of the neighbours who live on the street. Those who want to find out more about the house should contact Hawes or Karpik.
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