Clarke Gayford

Birth Name: Clarke Timothy Gayford

Place of Birth: Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand

Date of Birth: 24 October, 1976

Ethnicity: English, Scottish, Welsh, 1/32 Māori

Clarke Gayford is a New Zealand radio and television broadcaster.

Clarke is the son of Peri Vivienne (McDonald) and Antony Clarke “Tony” Gayford. He has a daughter with his partner, Jacinda Ardern, who was Prime Minister of New Zealand, from 26 October, 2017 to 25 January, 2023.

Clarke’s paternal grandfather was named Clarke Gayford (the son of Clarke Gayford).

Clarke’s maternal grandfather was William Hugh Westley “Bill” McDonald (the son of Hugh McDonald and Myrtle Caroline Westley). William was born in Hastings, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. Hugh was the son of William Mariner Blair Reid (later McDonald), who was born at sea to Scottish parents, and of an English emigrant, Alice Ann Thomas, of Oswestry, Shropshire, whose own mother, Rachel Jones, was Welsh, from Mold, Flintshire. Myrtle was of English descent, and was the daughter of William Edward Westley and Lucy Meads.

Clarke’s maternal grandmother was Vivienne Doris Wright (the daughter of Donald Te Rangikahekeiwake Wright and Helen Carter). Donald’s father, Leonard Darling Wright, was an English emigrant, from Aikton, Cumberland (now Cumbria). Donald’s mother, Kataraina Te Kahuwaeroa Davies, was the daughter of Rowland Charles Davies, who was born in Byculla, Bombay (now Mumbai), India, to Welsh parents, and of Ripeka Te Kahuwaero Wikiriwhi, who was Māori.

Sources: Genealogy of Clarke Gayford –

Genealogy of Clarke’s maternal grandfather, William Hugh Westley McDonald –

Genealogy of Clarke’s maternal grandmother, Vivienne Doris Wright –