Clarke Gayford rolls out the dad jokes on the Labour stage in Dunedin

Often seen and seldom heard, Clarke Gayford took to the stage at the Labour Party conference today to the surprise of the 1200 supporters crammed into the Dunedin Town Hall.

“It’s just wonderful to be out of the house these days” he joked as he led the audience through the necessary safety briefing.

“I think I can guarantee you’ve never had an MC as happy as I am to take you through housekeeping,” he exclaimed to a laughing audience.

After delivering a series of ‘dad jokes’ Mr Gayford left the stage after embracing his partner, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as she exuberantly started her first Party speech as Labour leader.

The PM used the occasion to announce a boost to school funding for 600 new teachers for children with learning difficulties.