Chris Hipkins sworn in as New Zealand PM as Ardern steps down

• Hipkins was sworn in in front of New Zealand’s governor-general.
• Carmel Sepuloni was also sworn in as deputy prime minister.
• The cost of living would be central to Chris Hipkins’s policy agenda.

Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins has been sworn in as New Zealand’s new prime minister, following Jacinda Ardern’s surprise resignation last week.

Hipkins was sworn in in front of New Zealand‘s governor-general, the country’s head of state, and a representative of the United Kingdom’s King Charles.

During the ceremony, Carmel Sepuloni was also sworn in as deputy prime minister, making her the first person of Pacific Islander descent to hold the position.

“This is the biggest privilege and responsibility of my life,” Hipkins said afterward.

“I’m energized and excited by the challenges ahead.”

The 44-year-old, who previously led the country’s COVID-19 response, was elected as the party’s new leader on Sunday after Arden announced her resignation.

Hundreds of people gathered on Parliament grounds, breaking out in spontaneous applause as Ardern left for the final time.

She hugged each of her members of parliament in turn, many of whom were visibly moved, before proceeding to Government House to tender her resignation to Governor General Cindy Kiro, the first Maori to hold the position.

Ardern was elected prime minister for the first time in 2017, riding a wave of “Jacindamania” to a landslide victory in 2020.

However, her center-left government has struggled in recent years, hampered by soaring inflation, a looming recession, and a resurgent opposition.

Chris Hipkins’ first cabinet meeting

At a press conference following Hipkins’ first cabinet meeting as prime minister, he stressed that while the cost of living would be central to his policy agenda, he would not make announcements “on the fly”.

“New Zealanders will absolutely see in the coming weeks and months that cost of living is right at the heart of our work program,” he said.

“It is the number one priority that we are facing as a government and they will see tangible evidence of that.”

Known as “Chippy”, Hipkins is well-known to New Zealanders for his competence in tackling COVID-19.

He describes himself as a “regular, ordinary Kiwi” from a working-class family who enjoys sausage rolls and riding his bike to work.

According to a December 2022 1News-Kantar poll, Labour’s support has dropped to 33% from 40% at the start of the year, implying that Labour would be unable to form a majority even with traditional coalition partner the Green Party at 9%.

Labour’s decline has benefited the conservative National Party.

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