Clarke Gayford on his celebrity encounters

Clarke Gayford has opened up his life as being the partner to the Prime Minister and about his encounters with celebrities. 

Speaking at a Q&A event in Auckland on Thursday night, Gayford said that his family had become the focus of intense media scrutiny lately.

Gayford rattled off a string of famous people he's got to meet since Ardern became PM last October – the Queen, musicians Ed Sheeran and Paul McCartney and Obama to name a few.

Read More:

• Clarke Gayford's hilarious 4AM tweet
• Clarke Gayford's classic Kiwi move at the hospital press conference

Along with detailing what it's like being a stay-at-home dad to three-month-old daughter Neve, he also spoke about meeting former US President Barack Obama.

"He was really lovely. He was asking questions about Māori culture and about New Zealand. He was an inquisitive, curious human being. We had to hongi him, and I was one of the first ones up and I was pretty nervous – and he'd only done one before either. Lovely soft nose!" Gayford told the event.

Clarke Gayford, Neve and Jacinda Ardern are heading to New York this weekend as Ardern attends the United Nations General Assembly.

Gayford has received an interesting invitation to meet with First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump. 

"Mrs Melania Trump requests the pleasure of your company for a reception on the occasion of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly'.

"Tea and scones with Melania. I don't know quite where it is. I'll see if we have time." Gayford recounts.