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Chris Hipkins (right) has been appointed prime minister of New Zealand replacing Jacinda Ardern and her deputy Carmel Sepuloni. Photo/Bloomberg
WELLINGTON – Chris Hipkins set so Prime Minister New Zealand on Sunday (22/1/2023), replacing Jacinda Ardern who resigned. He also appointed Carmel Sepuloni as his deputy.
Hipkins won the unanimous support of Labor lawmakers after he became the only candidate in the contest to replace Jacinda Ardern. The 42-year-old woman surprisingly announced her resignation last Thursday after more than five years at the helm of the country.
Read: Surprisingly, New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern suddenly resigns
Hipkins will be officially sworn in to his new role on Wednesday. He will have less than nine months before contesting general elections, with opinion polls showing his party trailing the opposition.
The lack of other candidates for leadership suggests party lawmakers have backed Hipkins to avoid a drawn-out contest and signs of division in the wake of Ardern’s departure.
In setting out his priorities, Hipkins said he knew many families in New Zealand were struggling because “pandemic inflation” and the economy would be at the heart of his government’s thinking.
When asked if she would take the same transformational approach to government that Ardern had promised after her first win for the top job, Hipkins indicated she wanted to get back to the basics.
“We will provide a very solid government that is focused on the bread and butter issues that matter to New Zealanders, and that are relevant to our times,” Hipkins said.
“2017 was five and a half years ago, and a lot has happened since then,” he added as quoted by The Associated Press.
Read: Chris Hipkins Will Replace Jacinda Ardern as Prime Minister of New Zealand
