A Kiwi in the Kremlin - Russian strongman employed NZ au pair

Saturday, 6 June 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin is believed to have employed New Zealand staff, among other overseas nationals, as governesses, tutors and childcare staff.

A Kiwi is in the Kremlin according to revelations from a global investigation that has revealed at least one New Zealander has been employed in raising strongman Vladimir Putin’s children.

And its not just the prospect of rugby in Red Square that’s the attraction, with one nanny to the well-heeled saying Kiwis are increasingly the childcare of choice for the super wealthy.

According to Radio Free Europe, the secretive dictator has hired an international roster of at least 20 foreign governesses, tutors and other caregivers to raise his children, with an emphasis on teaching them English and German.

You could easily find yourself on a super yacht, or private jet, working as a nanny for the super wealthy, said one Kiwi au-pair provider.

They said the bulk come from Western nations - ironically countries more likely to side with Ukraine in the current war - including Britain, Germany, Ireland, Austria - and New Zealand.

Citing reports from Russia’s investigative Current Time TV, Radio Free Europe said Putin, 73, had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on overseas staff to look after his two sons, believed to be aged 7 and 11. The staff are believed to have spent much of their time at a secluded residence in Valdai, between St Petersburg and Moscow, heavily guarded with air defences since the start of the Ukraine war.

There were no further details on the New Zealander’s involvement but as for why a Kiwi nanny could find themselves working for Putin, according to Dream Childcare founder and general manager Tanya Burrage, it’s simple.

“Kiwis are probably the most sought after nannies in the world,” she said.

Burrage said two stand out qualities were behind the popularity of Kiwi childcare staff.

“One is definitely the English [speaking], that's a starter, but it's more the can-do attitude,” she said.

“Kiwis pretty much will get the job done, and are pretty flexible. A lot of other nationalities, not so much.

“‘My job is as a nanny, so I'm only going to look after the children, I'm not going to do the laundry for the children, or you've employed me for 30 hours a week and I'm not working 40 hours a week.’

“Whereas a Kiwi is much more likely to sort of say, you know, I'll fit in with the family.”

Burrage was also able to offer insights into what it’s like working for the super wealthy.

“Some of these international roles, families will have minimum three nannies full-time, and you work eight hour shifts and seven days a week, and you potentially work six weeks on and then two weeks off,” she said.

“And the nannies are expected to travel wherever the families go. They're on super yachts, they're on private planes.”

She said that while Europe has always been a receptive market for Kiwi staffers, newer locations such as Dubai and the United Arab Emirates are also actively recruiting Kiwi staff.

She said that as well as perks like super yacht holidays the work is very well paid, but the employers can be extremely demanding.

“The expectations are pretty high,” she said.

“It can be really hard work.”

She also said it was a world in which the NDA - the non-disclosure agreement - was common, so did not expect to be hearing from any of Putin’s Kiwi staff anytime soon.