Following Jacinda Ardern’s abrupt departure last week, Chris Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand’s 41st prime minister on Wednesday.
Hipkins, 44, has pledged a return to the fundamentals with an emphasis on the economy and what he called the pandemic of inflation.
His Labour Party is lagging the conservative opposition in opinion polls, and he will have less than nine months until a difficult national election.
Following her previous acceptance of Ardern’s resignation, Governor-General of New Zealand Cindy Kiro presided over the brief swearing-in ceremony in front of his friends and coworkers.
The biggest honor and responsibility of my life are now upon me, Hipkins remarked at the event. The difficulties ahead have me energized and excited.
Carmel Sepuloni was also sworn in as deputy prime minister, filling the position for the first time ever with a person of Pacific Island ancestry. She praised Hipkins and expressed her gratitude for his confidence in her.
Hipkins remarked to reporters after the ceremony: It feels very genuine now.
Many people refer to Hipkins as Chippy, which fits with his positive outlook and aptitude as a do-it-yourself handyman.
Under Ardern, he was the minister of both police and education. He became more well-known to the general public when he assumed a crisis management position during the COVID-19 pandemic. But Ardern, who rose to become a left-leaning star and typified a new kind of leadership, has long cast a shadow over him and other liberals.
After serving in the position for more than five years, Ardern announced last week that she was leaving because she no longer had enough in the tank to execute the job properly. It really is that easy, she added.
In her last public appearance as prime minister on Tuesday, she noted that the people had been the pleasure of the job and that she would miss them most of all. She departed Parliament on Wednesday morning to the embraces and farewells of scores of former employees and admirers who had gathered on the forecourt.
In order to prevent a special election from being called before the country’s general election in October, Ardern intends to continue serving as a backbench politician until April.
King Charles III of Britain is the head of state of New Zealand, and Kiro serves as his ambassador there, albeit the country’s relationship with the monarchy these days is mostly symbolic.
Ardern was hailed on Twitter by the British Prince William and his wife, Kate, for your friendship, leadership, and support throughout the years, not least at the time of my grandmother’s passing. We wish you, Clarke, and Neve the best. W & C
