The 44-year-old faces an uphill battle to lead the ruling Labor Party to victory in the October general election amid rising inflation and a looming recession.
Labor leader Chris Hipkins has been sworn in as New Zealand’s prime minister following the surprise resignation of Jacinda Ardern last week.
Hipkins sat in front of the governor-general of New Zealand – the representative of King Charles of the United Kingdom who is the head of the country – in the capital of Wellington.
Carmel Sepuloni was also sworn in as deputy minister, the first Pacific Islander to attend the ceremony.
“This is the greatest privilege and responsibility of my life,” Hipkins said afterward.
“I’m motivated and excited about the challenges ahead.”
The 44-year-old, who previously led the country’s COVID-19 response, was appointed to the post on Sunday after Arden announced his resignation.
Hundreds of people gathered in the halls of Parliament, and gave a standing ovation, as Ardern left for the last time.
He hugged his members of parliament as well, many looking upset, before heading to State House, where he handed over his position to Governor Cindy Kiro.
Ardern was first elected prime minister in 2017, before riding “Jacindamania” to secure a second term with a landslide victory in 2020.
But his left-wing government has struggled over the past two years, hampered by high inflation, recession and looming opposition.
Known as “Chippy”, Mr Hipkins is well known to New Zealanders for his expertise in the fight against COVID-19.
He describes himself as a “normal, normal Kiwi” from the working class who likes sausage rolls and cycling to work.
“Covid-19 is a global pandemic that created a health crisis. Now it has created an economic crisis and that’s where my government will focus,” Hipkins said earlier.
A 1News-Kantar survey released in December 2022 had Labor’s support falling to 33 percent from 40 percent at the beginning of the year, which means that Labor will not form a majority even with its partner the Green Party on 9 percent.
The Conservative National Party has benefited from Labour’s decline.
