Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has put her Sandringham home on the market, offering prospective buyers a rare chance to own a property that featured prominently during her years in office.
According to a report by Stuff, the four-bedroom 1930s bungalow on Cambourne Road is being sold following Ardern's relocation to Australia earlier this year with her husband, Clarke Gayford, and their daughter Neve.
The couple purchased the 643-square-metre property in 2018 for $1.74 million and later renovated it. During the renovations, Gayford reportedly built the home's deck himself while caring for their young daughter. The property now has a capital value of $2.3 million, with estimates suggesting it could sell for between $2.15 million and $2.41 million, Stuff has reported.
The home, which regularly appeared in the Emmy Award-winning documentary Prime Minister, is set to go under the hammer at an auction scheduled for July 15 at 6 pm.
Despite the property's high-profile ownership, Ray White agent Tim Hawes said the sale is being treated like any other residential listing.
“At this point in time, it’s just a home,” he said. “We had four very normal open homes over the weekend, so I’m not really expecting this one to be much different from any other of our listings,” as quoted by Stuff.
According to Hawes, the property has generated strong interest from families drawn to its spacious layout and character features. The home includes multiple living areas and a large backyard, making it particularly appealing for family living, Stuff has reported.
As public interest in the former prime minister's residence grows, Hawes has a simple message for open-home visitors: treat it like any other property.
According to Stuffhe home's celebrity connections, including visits from singer Lorde and former US television host Stephen Colbert, may tempt visitors to speculate about who sat where during gatherings, but agents are encouraging guests to remain respectful.
Likewise, visitors are being reminded not to open cupboards or drawers in search of mementos or personal items. The family has moved out and the house has been professionally staged for sale.
The property also features a small Wendy house in the backyard, painted to match the main residence. However, prospective buyers are being urged not to treat the open home as a tourist attraction or recreate scenes from the documentary for social media, as reported by Stuff.
According to Stuff, standard open-home etiquette also applies, including removing shoes before entering and respecting the property throughout the viewing.
Several open homes are scheduled ahead of the auction, giving interested buyers multiple opportunities to view one of Auckland's most talked-about residential listings.