WELLINGTON - Mr Chris Hipkins, who played a significant role in New Zealand’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, is set to replace Ms Jacinda Ardern as prime minister after emerging on Saturday as the only candidate nominated to lead the ruling Labour Party.
Mr Hipkins is expected to be confirmed as the new leader at a meeting of Labour’s 64 lawmakers, or Caucus, on Sunday.
“I think we’re an incredibly strong team,” Mr Hipkins told a news conference after being announced as the sole candidate.
“We’ve gone through this process with unity and we’ll continue to do that. I’m feeling really fortunate to be working with such an amazing group of people who have a real commitment to the service of the people of New Zealand.”
Mr Hipkins would not be drawn on his policy plans. A Cabinet reshuffle proposed by Ms Ardern would go ahead, but Finance Minister Grant Robertson was likely to continue in the role, he said.
He said he had spoken to Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who tweeted the two had had “a warm discussion”.
In a surprise announcement on Thursday, Ms Ardern said she had “no more in the tank” to lead the country and would step down and not seek re-election.
First elected to Parliament for the Labour Party in 2008, the 44-year-old Mr Hipkins became a household name fronting the government’s response to the pandemic after being appointed minister for Covid-19 in November 2020.
Mr Hipkins is currently minister for police, education and public service as well as leader of the House.
A Horizon Research snap poll obtained by local media organisation Stuff on Friday showed that Mr Hipkins was the most popular potential candidate among voters, with the backing of 26 per cent of those surveyed.
He has a big challenge before him, said New Zealander Eva Murphy in Auckland.
“He won’t ever fill the shoes that Jacinda has, and it will be interesting to see what Labour come out with in terms of the election campaign over the next year, and we’re looking forward to seeing what happens,” she said.
Mr Hipkins’s confirmation by Labour lawmakers at a meeting on Sunday afternoon is expected to be a formality. Ms Ardern will then tender her resignation to the Governor General before Mr Hipkins is appointed.
If confirmed, Mr Hipkins will be prime minister until the party’s term ends.
A general election will be held on Oct 14, with some polls showing Labour will struggle to hold on to power.
A Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll released on Friday, based on data from before Ms Ardern’s resignation announcement, showed Labour’s popularity falling to 31.7 per cent, behind the Nationals at 37.2 per cent.
New Zealand Green Party, Labour’s traditional coalition partner, said in a statement they were looking forward to working with Mr Hipkins.
“Chris will make an excellent Prime Minister and we look forward to continuing our work together, for the rest of this term and the next,” said Green Party co-leader James Shaw. REUTERS
