Asia | Kiwi politics

Jacinda Ardern’s successor is unveiled

Chris Hipkins will have his work cut out ahead of an election in October

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, right, and new Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins arrive for their caucus vote at Parliament in Wellington, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. Hipkins got the unanimous support of lawmakers from his party after he was the only candidate to enter the contest to replace Ardern, who shocked the nation of 5 million people last Thursday when she announced she was resigning. (Mark Mitchell/New Zealand Herald via AP)

Jan 23rd 2023|SYDNEY

The surprise resignation on January 19th of Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s widely loved prime minister, could have triggered bloodletting in the country’s ruling Labour Party. But it has selected a new leader with remarkably little fuss. Within two days of Ms Ardern’s announcement, Labour mps had coalesced behind Chris Hipkins, the education minister. He was formally endorsed as Labour leader on January 22nd and sworn in as prime minister on January 25th. “Leadership contests don’t have to be like the ‘Hunger Games’,” Mr Hipkins quipped.

This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Hipkins to be square”