Hipkins said he would build his own relationships, but expected Ardern to “put in a good word”.
Wellington:
Hundreds gathered to applaud Jacinda Ardern as she left New Zealand’s parliament to resign as prime minister on Wednesday, before Chris Hipkins was swiftly sworn in as her replacement.
Ardern said she no longer had “enough capacity” after dealing with the country’s natural disasters, its worst ever terror attack and the COVID-19 pandemic last week.
Hipkins was sworn in during a ceremony in the capital Wellington by Governor-General Cindy Kiro, saying she was “enthusiastic and excited by the challenges ahead”.
“It is the greatest privilege and responsibility of my life,” he said.
The 44-year-old is now tasked with reversing the government’s declining popularity, which has been hampered by a deteriorating economy and a resurgent conservative opposition.
Ardern made her final public appearance as prime minister on Wednesday, walking out of the distinctive Beehive parliament building to thunderous applause from hundreds of staff and onlookers.
Prince William was among the first to congratulate Ardern.
He wrote on his official Twitter account, “Thank you Jacinda Ardern for your friendship, leadership and support, at least at the time of my grandmother’s death.”
Folk singer Youssef/Cat Stevens, who performed a concert in memory of the 51 people killed during the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre, also praised Ardern.
On Twitter, he described Ardern as “a supporter of the peace train that held New Zealanders together after the terrorist attack in Christchurch”.
Ardern was first elected as prime minister in 2017, before riding a wave of “Jacindamania” to secure a second term in 2020 with a landslide victory.
falling popularity
But his centre-left government has increasingly struggled in recent months as it grapples with rising inflation, a housing affordability crisis and a looming recession.
After chairing her first cabinet meeting on Wednesday afternoon, Hipkins said it was an “extremely proud moment” for her to take “the baton of responsibility” from Ardern.
He chose the cost of living as one of his most urgent priorities, but hesitated when pressed on other possible policy changes.
Ardern, a global figurehead of progressive politics, is credited with raising New Zealand’s reputation on the world stage.
Hipkins said he would be building his own relationships, but hoped Ardern would “put in a good word”.
The father of two is nicknamed “Chippy” and describes himself as a “regular, ordinary Kiwi” from a working-class background, who prefers sausage rolls and cycling to work.
He condemned the “absolutely despicable” social media abuse leveled at Ardern, which intensified during her years as prime minister.
Ardern said on Tuesday she would “hate” her departure to be seen as “a negative comment on New Zealand”.
“I feel grateful to have had this amazing role for so many years,” she said.
Ardern will continue to sit in parliament, but has announced her intention to step back from the cut and thrust of daily politics.
She has also said she plans to marry her partner Clark Gayford, a television personality who hosts a popular fishing show, and is looking forward to taking their daughter Neve to school. Is.
Gayford said that Ardern’s resignation was met with “incredible expressions of thanks and respect”, and that he was very proud of her “superhuman efforts”.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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