Chris Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand’s 41st Prime Minister on Wednesday following Jacinda Ardern’s resignation.
Chris Hepkins, 44, pledged action focused on the economy and what he called “pandemic inflation”.
You will have less than nine months before the general election, when the polls will put your Labor party behind the Conservatives.
The ceremony was presided over by the Governor-General of New Zealand, Cindy Kerro.
Hepkins was Minister of Education and Police under Jacinda Ardern. He gained public prominence during the novel coronavirus pandemic, when he took over as a crisis manager. But he, like other liberals, was in the shadow of Ardern, who became a global icon of the political left and represented a new kind of leadership.
Ardern’s last public appearance as head of government was on Tuesday, saying what he will miss most are the people, as they were “the joy of the job”.
New Zealand’s head of state is King Charles III of the United Kingdom, and Kero is his representative in New Zealand, but its relations with the British monarchy are mainly symbolic.
Emily Brontë is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, literature, and current affairs. She is dedicated to producing clear, accurate reporting that helps readers stay informed about developments in the UK and around the world.
