New Zealand: Chris Hipkins set to be new prime minister
The education minister is the only candidate in the race to replace Jacinda Ardern, but still needs the endorsement from his Labour Party colleagues.
New Zealand's Education Minister Chris Hipkins is set to become the country's new prime minister following the surprise resignation of Jacinda Ardern.
Hipkins was the only candidate to enter the race to replace Ardern on Saturday.
The Labour Party still needs to formally endorse Hipkins' nomination, which is expected to take place on Sunday.
"The Labour Party caucus will meet at 1pm on Sunday to endorse the nomination and confirm Chris Hipkins as Party Leader," said a statement by senior Labour Party member Duncan Webb.
As leader of the Labour Party, he will then go on to become the 41st prime minister.
Hipkins led New Zealand's COVID-19 response
The 44-year-old politician became a leading figure in New Zealand's response to the global pandemic, serving nearly two years as the COVID-19 response minister.
Hipkins, who was also serving as the country's police minister along with his responsibility as education and public service minister, will have around eight months in the PM role before contesting general elections due to take place in October.
On Thursday, Ardern announced she would be stepping down from her role by February 7 after five and a half years, telling members of her Labour Party: "I just don't have enough in the tank for another four years."
Ardern was at the helm during natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the country's worst ever terror attack — the Christchurch mosque shooting — in which 50 people were gunned down by a right-wing extremist.
kb/rt (Reuters, AP)
Fri, January 20, 2023
Poised to be New Zealand's next prime minister, Chris Hipkins became a household name leading the nation's closed-border crackdown on Covid-19 and describes himself as a decisive, straight-talking politician.
The 44-year-old police and education minister emerged Saturday as his Labour Party's sole contender to replace Jacinda Ardern following her shock resignation barely 48 hours earlier. He is to be formally endorsed for the job Sunday.
"Hopefully New Zealanders know me as someone who is up front, doesn't mind admitting when they've made a mistake and can laugh at themselves," he told reporters after being selected.
The red-headed Hipkins won plaudits for his near two-year term as the Covid response minister in a country that shut its borders to keep the coronavirus out, only fully reopening to the outside world in August last year.
He later conceded that rolling lockdowns were "tough going" and said they had to be eased as people wearied of the restrictions.
Political commentator Josie Pagani has described Hipkins, with more than 14 years in opposition and government, as "sensible, likeable, tough and capable".
Hipkins has been police minister since June last year, a key role given criticism of the government's record on crime, in addition to serving more than five years as education minister and public service minister.
"I think I am relatively upfront, I'm relatively inclusive. People won't die wondering what I think," he told reporters outside parliament in Wellington.
"It's a big day for a boy from the Hutt," he said, referring to the Hutt Valley region near the capital Wellington.
"My parents came from relatively humble beginnings and worked really hard to provide a good life for my brother and I," Hipkins added, vowing to give New Zealanders the opportunities to improve their lives.
Justice Minister Kiri Allan, one of Labour's senior Maori MPs, who had been considered a potential prime minister herself, said Hipkins was decisive and would be an "incredibly strong" prime minister.
"He is extremely competent, with a track record of delivering for New Zealand as one of our most senior ministers over the past six years," she said.
- 'Garbage' -
Hipkins told journalists he liked cycling, gardening, DIY and being outdoors but conceded: "Maybe I don't have the best fashion sense in parliament."
Asked whether having a red-haired prime minister would be a historic moment for the country, he said: "I think it was about time we had a ginger at the top."
The incoming New Zealand leader studied politics and criminology at Victoria University and then worked in the industry training sector.
Before becoming an MP in 2008, he worked as a senior adviser to two education ministers and former prime minister Helen Clark.
Although known as a personable and laid-back operator, Hipkins was involved in some high-profile spats with Australia's former conservative government.
In 2021, he accused Australia of "exporting its garbage" to New Zealand -- a reference to Canberra's controversial policy of deporting criminals back to their country of birth.
Hipkins was admonished by Ardern in 2017 after he was accused of playing a role in a dual citizenship scandal in the Australian parliament.
Then-deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce was forced to stand down after information released to Hipkins revealed Joyce was a dual citizen of both Australia and New Zealand.
Australia's constitution forbids federal politicians from sitting in parliament if they hold dual citizenship.
Troubleshooter Chris Hipkins faces a tough road as New Zealand PM
Chris Hipkins speaks outside New Zealand's parliament in Wellington
Fri, January 20, 2023
By Lucy Craymer and Alasdair Pal
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Chris Hipkins, set to become New Zealand's prime minister, built a reputation for competence in tackling COVID-19, though he acknowledges some mistakes in handling the pandemic and faces a tough battle to retain power in an October general election.
Known as "Chippy", the former COVID minister is a close ally of Jacinda Ardern, who shocked the nation on Thursday by announcing she was resigning.
Hipkins, 44, expected to succeed Ardern as Labour leader on Sunday after no other candidates emerged, faces a stern test upon taking power, with Labour trailing the opposition in opinion polls and the country expected to fall into recession next quarter before a general election on Oct. 14.
Often brought in by Ardern when other cabinet colleagues were struggling with their portfolios, Hipkins pledged on Saturday to continue her governing style while putting his own stamp on running the country.
"Jacinda provided calm, stable, reassuring leadership, which I hope to continue to do. We are different people though, and I'm sure that people will see that," Hipkins told a news conference on Saturday after emerging as the only candidate to lead the ruling Labour Party.
First elected to parliament in 2008, Hipkins became a household name fronting the government's response to the pandemic. He was appointed health minister in July 2020 before becoming the COVID response minister at the end of the year.
Under Ardern's “go hard, go early” approach to COVID, the island nation of 5 million was among the first to close borders.
The policy was hailed around the world for keeping New Zealanders virus-free through the first half of 2021, but the public tired of the zero-tolerance strategy, which included a nationwide lockdown over a single infection.
Criticism over the strict lockdowns grew as officials struggled to control a Delta outbreak from August 2021. Hipkins later said quarantine measures should have been scaled back earlier.
'THE ODD MISTAKE'
"I've dealt with some challenging situations over the last five and a half years, the last couple of years particularly," Hipkins said on Saturday. "And, you know, I'm a human being. I'll make the odd mistake from time to time. I try and own the mistakes that I make."
He would not be drawn on his policy plans.
A 1News-Kantar poll released in December had Labour's support falling to 33% from 40% at the start of 2022. At that rate, Labour could not form a majority even with traditional coalition partner the Green Party at 9%. The opposition National Party has benefited from Labour's decline.
Hipkins is known around parliament for his sense of humour - including an ability to laugh at himself.
Meaning to tell COVID-cramped New Zealanders once that they should socially distance when they go out to stretch their legs, he mistakenly said “spread your legs”. After the faux pas went viral, he was seen drinking from a mug with the notorious phrase on it.
Hipkins, who grew up in the Hutt Valley north of the capital Wellington, said his "parents came from relatively humble beginnings and worked really hard to provide a good life" for him and his brother.
"My commitment and politics is to make sure that we provide opportunities for all Kiwis who want to work hard, to be able to work hard and get ahead and provide a better life for themselves and for their families."
Hipkins became minister for police in mid-2022 amid a crime wave. He is also minister for education and public service, as well as leader of the House.
Before joining parliament, he was senior adviser to two education ministers and served in the office of former Prime Minister Helen Clark.
An outdoor enthusiast and keen cyclist, Hipkins is known to commute to the capital Wellington by bicycle from his home in an adjoining city.
(Reporting by Alasdair Pal and Lucy Craymer; Editing by William Mallard)
No comments:
Post a Comment