NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's partner Clarke Gayford on fatherhood: 'Oh boy'

"Fish of the Day" host Clarke Gayford is making a return to work but his full-time job of looking after baby Neve has been the hardest job. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand's "First Dad" Clarke Gayford has opened up on juggling fatherhood and life, saying he loves his job of daddy to 10-month-old baby Neve.

The partner of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Gayford is a stay-at-home dad to their first child and told Newstalk ZB's Jack Tame this morning he relishes the role but it keeps him permanently busy.

No doubt parents all over the country were nodding their heads in understanding as Gayford explained his time is no longer his own now he is a father.

"What I find hilarious is when you have friends who don't have children do that casual 'Oh we should catch up in the weekend, yeah it'd be great, I'll call you on Saturday.

"And you're like 'Well it will be great to see you but no you won't call me on Saturday. We'll plan this from Tuesday. I'll give you a time frame. That might be a moving target if it doesn't fall within a certain someone's sleep cycle and we'll meet here, and it'll have to be over by then'."

The television and radio presenter managed to film another season of Fish of the Day over summer but said some days he realises he's wearing a "ratty old pair of track pants because that's all you pulled on at 5am and you haven't shaved, and you're going 'Oh boy'".

Gayford said he is often approached by other dads in the street when he's pushing Neve in a buggy.

"They get so excited and start chatting about the good aspects and the tough aspects and I think that's quite nice to hear and to talk to as well."

Neve wasn't part of a playgroup yet Gayford said, mainly because he and Ardern had to split their week between Wellington where the Prime Minister is needed, and Auckland where the family lives.

He did have plans to take her to baby swimming lessons but by the end of the week the family just wanted to relax.

"Before you know it's Friday and you just want to catch your breath before it's Monday again."

YOU SHALL NOT PASS pic.twitter.com/CxeQoxAH1d

— Clarke Gayford (@NZClarke) March 29, 2019

And while Anika Moa's baby tunes had been a firm favourite to play to Neve by Ardern, Gayford preferred his own music tastes and said he planned to convert Neve.

"I'm trying to bring her up with a more advanced palette and bring her up on a little bit more of 'my' music."

It's not the first time Gayford has opened up on fatherhood.

He regularly tweets about incidents and events involving Neve including one where he implied the littlie vomited all down his clothes and another where he posted a picture of a child barrier drilled to an open doorway with the caption: "You Shall Not Pass."

Gayford's down-to-earth humour about being a dad has resonated with parents around the country.

On April 6, after daylight saving ended, his tweet "Hmm, seems that no one has put Neve's clock back for daylight saving" attracted 43 comments and 1600 likes.

Gayford was talking to Tame to promote the upcoming Planet Earth 2 Live in Concert Show alongside the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra , which he will narrate.