Chris Hipkins to be new NZ Prime Minister

Chris Hipkins says he can take Labour back up the polls to win the October election and has already spoken with Anthony Albanese.

Chris Hipkins has become the new Prime Minister of New Zealand, declaring he was “humbled and honoured” to take the role, after being the sole nominee for the Labour leadership.

NZ’s Police and Education Minister was nominated this morning after Jacinda Ardern’s shock announcement that she was stepping down on Thursday, with no other contenders coming forward.

Labour whip Duncan Webb said in a statement caucus would meet at 1pm on Sunday (11am AEDT) to endorse the nomination and confirm Mr Hipkins as party leader.

Mr Hipkins, who grew up in the working class Hutt Valley region near Wellington, the capital, told reporters: “It’s a big day for a boy from the Hutt.”

Asked if he could take Labour back up the polls, where it is now languishing at just 32 per cent - its lowest level since 2017 - and win the October general election, he replied simply: “Yes.”

“I feel incredibly optimistic about New Zealand’s future,” he said. “I feel energised and enthusiastic, and pledge that New Zealand will have my dedication and devotion in the next months.”

The 43-year-old Police and Education Minister said he had already spoken with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese - although he had missed Mr Albanese’s call - and looked forward to meeting him in person.

“Unfortunately I missed his call, but I called him back and had a chat,” Mr Hipkins said.“He’s had a very solid working relationship with Jacinda Ardern. I think from our conversation this morning, which was very warm, I’m absolutely sure that we’re going to have a very good working relationship as well.”

He added: “It’s a very very important relationship for NZ.”

Mr Hipkins has also spoken to Ms Ardern since he was appointed her successor but would not disclose what they talked about. However it is understood that he was the former prime minister’s choice and she had lobbied for him to succeed her.

Mr Hipkins paid tribute to his predecessor, saying she was “an incredible prime minister” and the leader NZ needed at a time of tragedy and turbulence. Speaking specifically of her leadership after the Christchurch massacre and White Island/Whakaari disaster in 2019, he said: “She provided calm, stable, reasonable leadership.”

However, he said, she had recently been on the receiving end of “intolerant and unacceptable behaviour.”

Asked to describe himself for Kiwis who didn’t know him, Mr Hipkins referenced the “relatively humble beginnings” of his parents, saying they worked hard to provide for him and his brother.

“I like cycling, gardening and I like to be outside when I can,” he said. A strawberry blond, Mr Hipkins, who is known for his humour and affability, added: “It’s about time there was a ginge at the top.”

National Party leader Christopher Luxon congratulated Mr Hipkins on becoming new Prime Minister but warned: “Just changing the leadership of the Labour Party doesn’t do enough for the New Zealand people.”

Speaking to reporters shortly after Mr Hipkins gave a press conference outside parliament in Wellington, Mr Luxon said: “Chris Hipkins has been part of a government that has spectacularly failed to get anything done, and what New Zealanders need is a National government that will get things done.

“And that means a government that’s going to be focussed on them and single-mindedly focussed on reducing the cost of living, making sure we can raise incomes for all, that we can restore law and order and that we can deliver better health and education.”

Ardern expected to hand over reins February 7

Ms Ardern will officially resign after Mr Hipkins is confirmed; she is expected to hand over the reins on February 7.

Carmel Sepuloni, Minister of Social Development and NZ’s first MP of Tongan descent, is expected to become his deputy after Kiri Allen, who had also been tipped for the role, ruled herself out this morning.

Ms Sepuloni this morning congratulated “My mate Chippy” (his popular nickname), saying she knew he would make “an exceptional prime minister”.

1/2: So incredibly happy for and proud of my mate Chippy — having worked with you for the last 15 years, as Whips and co-leading our employment, education and training and youth crime work programmes, I know that you will make an exceptional Prime Minister of NZ. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Zy4F8aLc2X

— Carmel Sepuloni (@CarmelSepuloni) January 20, 2023

Nominations for the leadership closed at 9am NZ time (7am AEDT) with Mr Hipkins named shortly afterwards.

It came after a Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll showed Mr Hipkins had the public’s backing, as well as that of MPs.

After Mr Hipkins was named sole nominee, David Seymour, leader of the right wing ACT party, warned the incoming leader needed to show he could “deliver on substance instead of snowing New Zealand with spin”.

Mr Seymour said Ms Ardern “had the best intentions, but people got angrier as her results went the other way.”

“The day she resigned, welfare numbers rose again while the country was covered in help wanted signs and food prices went up amongst shortages. That sums up Ardern’s collision with reality,” he said.

“The challenges faced are immense. The new prime minister must take on Labour’s factions to dump the fantasy policies they’ve forced on New Zealand with their absolute majority.”

Mr Hipkins, 44, is known as tough and likeable in equal parts, with a good work ethic and a determination to “get things done.”

He entered parliament in 2008, previously acting as an adviser to former prime minister Helen Clark. He entered the shadow cabinet in 2013, becoming spokesman for education; when Jacinda Ardern took the party to victory in 2017, he kept the Education portfolio.

As the Covid pandemic took hold, as Minister for the Covid-19 response Mr Hipkins became almost as well known as Ms Ardern domestically, fronting the cameras every day with detailed updates and gaining respect for admitting when he had got things wrong.

In the early months of the pandemic he and Ms Ardern successfully sold the necessity of draconian restrictions; in lockdown even takeaway outlets were closed, while New Zealanders abroad found it almost impossible to get home.

Under the country’s strict MIQ (Managed Isolation Quarantine) laws, arriving passengers had to enter a lottery to get a place in a quarantine hotel, with the vast majority missing out.

But despite growing anger over the restrictions as 2022 began, Mr Hipkins’ popularity was not dented; it was Ms Ardern and Minister of Finance Grant Robertson who bore the brunt of the fury as inflation rocketed and businesses were forced to close.

In June 2022, Mr Hipkins took up the role of Police Minister amid a growing crime wave and gang violence which threatened to envelop the country.

His predecessor, Poto Williams, had been criticised for being soft on crime. Upon taking the new portfolio, Mr Hipkins put in place a crackdown almost immediately, targeting gangs in particular.

From the right of the Labour party, Mr Hipkins has the potential to take votes from the centre right opposition National Party, whose leader, Christopher Luxon, has laid out a series of tough crime policies.

As leader, he is also a polished performer – more so than Mr Luxon, who regularly stumbles in live television appearances

‘No fight here’

Ms Ardern re-emerged briefly on Friday after her bombshell resignation announcement on Thursday, telling reporters she had “slept well for the first time in a long time”.

“I of course feel sad but also I do have a sense of relief,” she said as she returned to Wellington and her family – partner Clarke Gayford and daughter Neve, 4.

Her decision to name an election day of October 14 before announcing she would be stepping down as Prime Minister at least means her caucus won’t be forced to endure a snap election.

Mr Hipkins told reporters on Friday: “There is no fight going on here, everybody is just really constructively engaged in making sure we make a good decision.”

On Friday there had been speculation that Finance Minister Grant Robertson, a popular figure, might be nominated despite stating that he would not stand. Justice Minister Kiri Allen was another contender but on Saturday morning announced she would not stand either.

Grant Robertson with Jacinda Ardern; he has ruled himself out of the race but colleagues are calling for him to put his hand up. Picture: Getty Images.

Mr Hipkins may be forced into an early election rather than wait until October. But regardless, he will have a mountain to climb to bring the party from its current woeful position in the polls – at 32 per cent, they are at their lowest since 2017 – to take the lead from a resurgent National Party.