New Zealand’s prime minister, Chris Hipkins will replace Jacinda Ardern

Prime Minister of New Zealand: Jacinda Ardern will be succeeded as prime minister by Chris Hipkins, a former COVID-19 response minister for New Zealand. Following Ardern’s unexpected departure, the 44-year-old senior politician needs the formal support of Labour lawmakers to become the nation’s 41st prime minister. As leader of the governing party, Hipkins will also become prime minister when Ardern steps down.

January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz

Besides holding the education portfolio, Hipkins is also minister for police and the public service, and leader of the House. He is known as a political troubleshooter who has played a number of roles in an effort to resolve issues brought up by other legislators. A lawmaker for 15 years, Hipkins is considered more centrist than Ardern and colleagues hope that he will appeal to a broad range of voters.

What challenges now Hipkins face in future?

Among his biggest challenges during an election year will be convincing voters that his party is managing the economy well. New Zealand’s unemployment rate is relatively low at 3.3%, but inflation is high at 7.2%. New Zealand’s Reserve Bank has hiked the benchmark interest rate to 4.25% as it tries to get inflation under control, and some economists are predicting the country will go into recession this year.