Jacinda Ardern and her husband, Clarke Gayford, have purchased a $5.3m home in Sydney's northern beaches, according to a source with knowledge of the sale. The former New Zealand prime minister settled on a property in Dee Why after scouting locations that included nearby Curl Curl - because if you're going to spend five million dollars, you might as well do it near a beach with a name that sounds like a yoga pose.

The transaction, handled by Raine & Horne Northern Beaches and first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, is the biggest sale the suburb has recorded this year, per the source familiar with the deal. The Guardian has reached out to Gayford and a representative for Ardern for comment, presumably to ask if the house comes with a panic room for when someone asks about coalition negotiations.

Back in February, Ardern's office confirmed she was living in Australia after media reports surfaced that she, Gayford, and their daughter, Neve, had been spotted at open home viewings in the area. "The family has been travelling for a few years now," a spokesperson told The Guardian at the time. "For the moment they're basing themselves out of Australia - they have work there, and it brings the added bonus of more time back home in New Zealand." The spokesperson declined to specify when the family arrived or what exactly the work entails, but noted it's not unusual for former leaders to spend time overseas after leaving office - a diplomatic way of saying "they've earned a break from relentless scrutiny, thanks."

Ardern announced her retirement from politics in January 2023, after five years as New Zealand's prime minister and Labour party leader. Elected to the top job in October 2017 - yes, that's not a typo, though we'd forgive you for double-checking - she became the world's youngest-serving female leader at age 37. She later became the second woman to give birth while holding elected office, because apparently running a country wasn't enough multitasking for one resume.

Since leaving office, Ardern has taken up dual fellowships at Harvard University, continued her work on the Christchurch Call - the project she established to combat online extremism following the Christchurch mosque shootings - and joined the board of trustees for Prince William's Earthshot prize. Meanwhile, New Zealand has been grappling with a surge in citizens leaving the country due to a weak economy, high living costs, and high unemployment, with many relocating to Australia. So Ardern isn't just a former prime minister - she's also a trendsetter, albeit one with a slightly better housing budget than the average expat.