Chris Hipkins

Chris Hipkins
Hipkins in 2022
41st Leader of the Opposition
Assumed office
27 November 2023
Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon
DeputyCarmel Sepuloni
Preceded byChristopher Luxon
41st Prime Minister of New Zealand
In office
25 January 2023 – 27 November 2023
MonarchCharles III
DeputyCarmel Sepuloni
Governor-GeneralCindy Kiro
Preceded byJacinda Ardern
Succeeded byChristopher Luxon
18th Leader of the Labour Party
Assumed office
22 January 2023
Deputy
Preceded byJacinda Ardern
4th Minister for National Security and Intelligence
In office
25 January 2023 – 27 November 2023
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded byJacinda Ardern
Succeeded byChristopher Luxon
Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services
In office
25 January 2023 – 27 November 2023
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded byJacinda Ardern
Succeeded byChristopher Luxon
Ministerial offices 2017–⁠2023
41st Minister of Police
In office
14 June 2022 – 25 January 2023
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
Preceded byPoto Williams
Succeeded byStuart Nash
1st Minister for COVID-19 Response
In office
6 November 2020 – 14 June 2022
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byAyesha Verrall
41st Minister of Health
In office
2 July 2020 – 6 November 2020
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
Preceded byDavid Clark
Succeeded byAndrew Little
47th Minister of Education
In office
26 October 2017 – 25 January 2023
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
Preceded byNikki Kaye
Succeeded byJan Tinetti
19th Minister for the Public Service
In office
26 October 2017 – 25 January 2023
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
Preceded byPaula Bennett
Succeeded byAndrew Little
11th Leader of the House
In office
26 October 2017 – 25 January 2023
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
Preceded bySimon Bridges
Succeeded byGrant Robertson
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Remutaka
Rimutaka (2008–2020)
Assumed office
8 November 2008
Preceded byPaul Swain
Majority20,497
Personal details
Born
Christopher John Hipkins

(1978-09-05) 5 September 1978 (age 45)
Hutt Valley, New Zealand
Political partyLabour
Spouse
Jade Hipkins
(m. 2020; sep. 2022)
Children2
Residence(s)Upper Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand
Alma materVictoria University of Wellington (BA)
NicknameChippy[1]

Christopher John Hipkins (born 5 September 1978) is a New Zealand politician who has served as leader of the New Zealand Labour Party since January 2023[2][3] and leader of the Opposition since November 2023. He was the 41st prime minister of New Zealand from January to November 2023, previously serving as the minister for the public service and minister for education from 2017 to 2023, and the minister for health and the COVID-19 response from 2020 to 2022. He has been the member of Parliament (MP) for Remutaka since the 2008 general election.

Hipkins was born and raised in the Hutt Valley in Wellington, and while at Victoria University of Wellington became heavily involved in student politics. He was elected president of VUWSA twice, in 2000 and 2001. Hipkins won the pre-selection for the typically safe Labour seat of Remutaka in the Hutt Valley in 2008, but due to the return of the National Party to governance won it by a thin margin. As Labour's education spokesperson during their nine years in opposition, Hipkins became regarded as a "cut-throat political player" and a sharp, quick-witted debater.[4][5] After Jacinda Ardern led Labour to victory in the 2017 general election, Hipkins assumed multiple portfolios within the Sixth Labour Government, serving variously as minister of education, police, the public service, and leader of the House. For his perceived competence within multiple roles and responsibilities, Hipkins became regarded as Labour's "fixer".[6][7]

As minister of health, Hipkins was responsible for the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand. The elimination policy became the primary focus of the 2020 election, helping Labour win in a landslide.[8] After the victory, Hipkins took on more responsibility, serving as minister for COVID-19 response from November 2020 to June 2022. On 21 January 2023, Hipkins became the sole candidate to succeed Ardern as leader of the Labour Party after she announced her resignation.[9] He became party leader after being elected unopposed on 22 January 2023, and was consequently appointed prime minister by the governor-general on 25 January 2023.[10] His premiership was faced almost immediately with the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods, and then by further flooding from Cyclone Gabrielle.[11] He led his party into the 2023 general election, with Labour losing to National. Subsequently, he became Opposition leader on 27 November 2023.

  1. ^ McClure, Tess (24 September 2021). "'People are tired': Chris Hipkins, the New Zealand minister battling to eliminate Covid". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  2. ^ Whyte, Anna (25 January 2023). "Chris Hipkins formally sworn in as new prime minister". Stuff. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Hipkins Named to Succeed Ardern as New Zealand Prime Minister". Bloomberg.com. 20 January 2023. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Yardley, Mike (23 January 2023). "Is Hipkins a caretaker PM or genuine election game-changer?". Stuff. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  6. ^ Manhire, Toby (21 January 2023). "'The guy just lives for DIY': What to expect from Prime Minister Chris Hipkins". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  7. ^ Whyte, Anna (20 January 2023). "Who is Chris Hipkins? The man set to be New Zealand's next prime minister". Stuff. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Ardern set to win in New Zealand's 'COVID election'". Japan Today. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  9. ^ Mathias, Shanti (21 January 2023). "The beginner's guide to Chris Hipkins, our next prime minister". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 20 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  10. ^ McClure, Tess (22 January 2023). "New Zealand: Chris Hipkins taking over from Jacinda Ardern on Wednesday". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  11. ^ Frost, Natasha (27 January 2023). "Rain Batters New Zealand's Largest City, Causing Major Flooding". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.