© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Chris Hipkins speaks to members of the media, after being confirmed as the only nomination to replace Jacinda Ardern as leader of the Labour Party, outside New Zealand’s parliament in Wellington, New Zealand January 21 2023. REUTERS/Lucy Craym
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand’s Governor General will appoint Labour leader Chris Hipkins as prime minister in a formal ceremony on Wednesday, the government said following the resignation of outgoing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern 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 comes after the surprise resignation of Ardern, 42, who said she had “no more in the tank” to lead the country.
Before Hipkins becomes prime minister, Ardern will tender her resignation to King Charles’ representative in New Zealand, Governor General Cindy Kiro. Kiro will then appoint Hipkins to the role and he will be sworn in.
Hipkins is then set to hold his first meeting with Labour ministers before fronting to the media.
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