Chris Hipkins, 44, has been named successor to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. According to New Zealand media, he has been elected by Labor MPs as the new leader of the Social Democratic Party and will lead the New Zealand government. The vote was largely a formality. The current Minister of Education, Police and Public Services was the only candidate.
Hipkins is known as a skilled driver. He is praised, among other things, for the way in which he tackled the corona virus. He also proved to be of great value to Ardern as a problem solver.
Ardern became one of the world’s youngest female heads of government in 2017 at the age of 37. She unexpectedly announced last week that she would resign from her position on February 7. She said she didn’t have enough energy for it anymore. On October 14, New Zealanders will elect a new parliament.
