Chris Hipkins will replace Jacinda Ardern as Prime Minister of New Zealand.
21/01/2023
New Zealand Education Minister Chris Hipkins, who led the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, will replace Jacinda Ardern as the country’s next prime minister.
Hipkins emerged as the sole candidate to lead the Labor Party, the party said on 21 January.
Hipkins is expected to be confirmed as the new leader at a meeting of the Labor Party’s caucus consisting of 64 lawmakers on 22 January.
44-year-old Chris Hipkins, first elected to parliament for the Labour Party in 2008, became a household name for taking a crisis management role in the government’s response to the pandemic after being appointed minister for COVID-19 in November 2020.
He is currently the minister for police, education and public service, as well as the leader of the House.
