Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Jan 25: Labour leader Chris Hipkins was appointed as the 41st Prime Minister of New Zealand in a formal ceremony on Wednesday after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stepped down last week.
The Labour Party elected former Covid-19 response and Police Minister Hipkins (44) to lead the party and the country on Sunday. This came after the sudden resignation of Ardern (42) who said she had `no more in the tank’ to lead the country.
Hipkins has promised a back-to-basics approach focused on the economy and what he calls the ‘pandemic of inflation’.
He has less than nine months before taking part in a tough general election, where polls indicate that his Labour Party is trailing its conservative opposition.
After accepting Ardern’s resignation, New Zealand Governor-General Cindy Kiro held a brief swearing-in ceremony in front of his friends and colleagues.
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“This is the greatest privilege and responsibility of my life,” said Hipkins adding, “I am energised and excited by the challenges that lie ahead.”
Meanwhile, Carmel Sepuloni was also appointed as deputy prime minister, becoming the first heir to Pacific Island. She congratulated Hipkins and thanked him for trusting her.
Speaking to the media, Hipkins said, “It feels pretty real now.”
Hipkins is known to many by the nickname ‘Chippy,’ which fits with his cheerful demeanour and skills as an amateur handyman.
