NZ PM Chris Hipkins gets Covid at crucial time in election campaign

Chris Hipkins’ positive Covid test comes a day before early voting starts and just two weeks before the October 14 election.

Chris Hipkins speaks to the media before his Covid diagnosis. Picture: Getty Images.

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has tested positive with Covid and has to isolate for five days at a crucial time in the election campaign.

Mr Hipkins, who is heading for a comprehensive defeat at the October 14 election, shared a picture of his positive RAT test on Instagram on Sunday morning.

“Bugger! After a rough night I woke up this morning feeling pretty unwell and just got this test result,” he wrote.

“I’m in close contact with New Zealanders on the campaign trail and I don’t want to pass it on to anyone, so I’ll be following the guidance and isolating for a few days or until I get a negative test.”

Mr Hipkins’ spokesman said he had cold and flu symptoms that started on Saturday.

His Covid diagnosis comes at a critical time in the election campaign with early voting starting in NZ on Monday and party leaders ramping up their campaigning.

Mr Hipkins’ Labour party has continued to perform badly in the polls, with the most recent polling showing that even in coalition with the Green Party and Te Pati Maori (the Maori Party) they would fall far short of a majority.

Polling over the last three months shows the rival National Party could form a coalition government with the libertarian ACT party. However the most recent polls show both parties dipping slightly, and only just reaching the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120 seat parliament. It would mean National leader Christopher Luxon having to invite the maverick Winston Peters, leader of NZ First, to join the coalition.

Mr Hipkins, who is popular with New Zealanders, has been performing well on the campaign trail, and would have hoped to attract more voters to Labour’s side in the final two weeks. He also trounced Mr Luxon at the second leaders’ debate, ruthlessly pushing his rival on National’s tax policy and, at one point, accusing Mr Luxon of being willing to work with racists.

He will hope to be fully recovered in time for the third and last debate, set for October 12.

Meanwhile, Mr Hipkins said he would attend as many campaign events as possible by remote.

It’s the second time he has tested positive for the virus, after first contracting it in March 2022.