PM Jacinda Ardern spills details on 'very romantic' proposal

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has revealed more details about how Clarke Gayford proposed to her.

The couple got engaged over Easter weekend while they were in Mahia, Hawke's Bay.

At her weekly post-Cabinet press conference on Monday, Ardern said the proposal happened at the top of Mokotahi Hill in front of a select group of witnesses.

"It was Clarke, myself, a member of the DPS [Diplomatic Protection Service], so very intimate," she joked. "Couple of locals from Mahia and a dog that tried to eat the chocolate Clarke bought me, so it was very romantic."

When asked if Gayford got down on one knee to pop the question, she implied he hadn't.

"The DPS were up there and they had no idea what had happened, so that should be a bit of a giveaway to you."

She was coy about going into any further detail, expressing scepticism when told the New Zealand public were hungry for more information.

"Are they really? Are they?" she said.

"There are some things I wouldn't mind keeping for us. This is a very public job and I'm quite happy to put quite a bit of ourselves out there, but there are some things I wouldn't mind keeping to ourselves."

As to when the pair will tie the knot, she said she has no idea.

"I was surprised by the question, as were probably many other couples, and that means we haven't made many plans, in fact any plans at all."

News of Ardern's engagement broke when she was seen sporting a ring on her middle finger, rather than the traditional fourth finger.

"I have not been trying to hide our news from anyone," she explained. "It simply does not fit on the right finger, so that's why it's sitting on the middle."

She refused to hold her hand up so media could see the ring, which belonged to Gayford's grandmother.

"I'd prefer not to lower the tone of the Beehive's theatrette by flashing [it] - you've got good zoom lenses."

Newshub.