‘Abhorrent’: Incoming NZ PM Chris Hipkins slams the personal abuse endured by Jacinda Ardern

New Zealand’s incoming prime minister Chris Hipkins has vowed to shield his own family from the spotlight as he condemns the personal abuse suffered by Jacinda Ardern.

New Zealand’s incoming prime minister Chris Hipkins criticised the “abhorrent” treatment endured by Jacinda Ardern and vowed on Sunday to shield his own family, three days after her shock resignation.

In his first remarks after being unanimously endorsed by Labour Party MPs as the party’s leader and the nation’s next prime minister, Hipkins attacked the personal abuse suffered by Ardern during her more than five years in the top job.

Ardern sparked a national debate about the pressures she endured when she revealed Thursday that she was stepping down, saying she no longer had “enough in the tank”.

Politicians and other public figures have lined up to criticise the “vitriol” Ardern was subjected to as prime minister, notably on social media, although she did not mention it herself.

“The way Jacinda has been treated, particularly by some segments of our society — and they are a small minority — has been utterly abhorrent,” Hipkins said.

“It does not represent who we are as a country,” said the 44-year-old education and police minister.

The future prime minister, best known for leading a national crackdown on Covid-19 for nearly two years, said he understood that putting himself forward as leader meant he was “public property”.

“But my family aren’t,” he told reporters.

Hipkins said he wanted his six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter to grow up with a “typical Kiwi kid life”, adding that his amicable separation from his wife was his own business.

“I have seen the enormous scrutiny and pressure placed on Jacinda and her family and so my response will be to keep my family completely out of the spotlight,” he said.

Hipkins said he would be sworn in as the nation’s 41st prime minister by the governor general on Wednesday after Ardern formally steps down.

New Zealand under his leadership will switch its focus from Covid-19 to bolstering the economy, Hipkins said.

The cost of living, rising inflation and workforce shortages have been blamed in part for Labour’s decline in the polls since 2020, now surpassed by the centre-right National Party opposition.

“Covid-19 and the global pandemic created a health crisis. Now it’s created an economic one and that’s where my government’s focus will be,” Hipkins said.

He also announced the country will have its first deputy prime minister of Pacific island descent, Carmel Sepuloni.

The 46-year-old Sepuloni entered parliament in 2008 and has been the minister for social development since 2017.

Sepuloni, who has four children, aged nine to 24, and a grandchild, said her eldest son was “pretty reluctant” when first told of her promotion but had since expressed pride in a message to her.

Sepuloni said her father, of Samoan and Tongan heritage, arrived in New Zealand in 1964 to work on the railways.

That his daughter would become deputy prime minister of New Zealand “is very hard to comprehend”, she said.

“I want to acknowledge the significance of this for our Pacific community.

“I’ve received so many humbling messages about another glass ceiling being smashed.”

About eight per cent of New Zealand’s 5.1 million population identifies as Pasifika — a New Zealander of Pacific island descent.

Grant Robertson, deputy prime minister under Ardern, is expected to remain as finance minister.

CHRIS HIPKINS CONFIRMED AS NEW NZ PM

Chris Hipkins has been confirmed as New Zealand 41st prime minister after the resignation of Jacinda Ardern.

He will be sworn in as Prime Minister on Wednesday.

Chris Hipkins and Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni leave the Labour caucus meeting. Picture: AFP

The 44-year-old from Upper Hutt, near Wellington, was the only nomination for the top job, despite expert speculation that it could be a tight race. It’s understood that the party wanted a tidy handover after Ms Ardern’s news made global headlines.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins arrive at the Labour caucus meeting. Picture: AFP

The caucus met at 1pm on Sunday to endorse the nomination and confirm Mr Hipkins as Labour leader.

Carmel Sepuloni, Social Development Minister and NZ’s first MP of Tongan descent, replaces Finance Minister Grant Robertson as Deputy Prime Minister.

Chris Hipkins shares Jacinda Ardern’s passion for social justice. Picture: Getty Images

Who is Chris ‘Chippy’ Hipkins?

Mr Hipkins was first elected to parliament in 2008 and currently serves as Minister of Education, Minister of Police, Minister for the Public Service, and Leader of the House.

However, he rose to prominence when he served as Minister for Health and Minister for Covid-19 response. He has a strong track record and became a daily fixture in local media, seen as a safe pair of hands during the chaos of the pandemic.

Like Ms Ardern, Mr Hipkins is known for his progressive politics and strong stance on social justice, and he worked in the office of former Prime Minister Helen Clark in his early years.

Mr Hipkins has also charmed the New Zealand public with a self-deprecating sense of humour.

He laughed at himself after going viral for an X-rated gaffe at a 2021 media conference, when he urged Kiwis to keep social distancing in mind when they go outside to “spread their legs”.

He also has a weakness for sausage rolls and became something of an icon after celebrating his birthday with a cake constructed entirely of the meat and pastry treat.

However, it will be a tough road ahead as he will need to significantly improve the party’s approval rating before New Zealanders go to the polls in October.

Ardern resigned on Thursday, saying there was nothing left in the tank. Picture: Getty Images

End of an era for Jacindamania

Ms Ardern stood down as Prime Minister on January 19 after more than five years in office.

She led the country through a particularly tumultuous time, including the Christchurch mosque shootings, the outbreak of Covid-19, and the decision to close the country’s border.

Though immensely popular during these crises, her approval rating slumped as New Zealanders battle the rising cost of living and deepening social inequality.

She resigned for personal reasons, saying it would be hard for Labour to win the election if the party were led by someone “who didn’t have enough in the tank”.

Ms Ardern became the world’s youngest female head of government in 2017, at the age of 37, and became the first world leader to give birth in office in 2018.