One of these 4 leaders can become PM of New Zealand in place of Jacinda Ardern

Wellington, New Zealand:

New Zealand’s ruling Labor Party is searching for a new leader following the shock resignation of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today.

Ardern said she had “no more in the tank” to continue leading the country and would step down no later than early February and not seek re-election.

The Labor Party will vote for a new leader on Sunday; The leader of the party will remain the Prime Minister until the next general election. Ardern’s term as leader will end on 7 February and a general election will be held on 14 October.

Here are the four Labor Party MLAs who could become Prime Minister:

chris hipkins

First elected to parliament for the Labor Party in 2008, Chris Hipkins became a household name in November 2020 after being appointed minister for COVID-19 leading the government’s response to the pandemic.

Leading a response that has been praised worldwide for leaving the country virus-free for the first half of 2021, criticism grew over the harsh lockdown, as authorities struggled to control the Delta outbreak that began in August 2021. Were staying The 44-year-old later said the quarantine measures should have been withdrawn earlier.

Hipkins became police minister in mid-2022 amid a crime wave, after building a reputation for competence. He is also the Minister of Education, Public Service and serves as the Leader of the House.

Hipkins held a number of roles in politics before joining Parliament. He was a senior advisor to two education ministers and served in the office of former Prime Minister Helen Clark.

kiri allen

New Zealand’s Justice Minister, Kiri Allen, 39, will become the country’s first prime minister of Māori descent, as well as the country’s first openly gay leader if elected.

Allen, whose portfolio also includes disaster management, was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer in 2021, the same day a powerful earthquake struck off the country’s coast, triggering a tsunami warning. He had taken leave for medical treatment before returning.

Before entering Parliament in 2017, Alan worked as a manager in the agriculture industry, and was heavily involved in the development of new kiwi fruit. He has also practiced commercial and public law in several regions of the country.

Michael Wood

Michael Wood, 42, has risen rapidly through the ranks of the Labor Party since joining parliament following a landslide by-election victory in 2016.

Wood was made Minister for Transport and Workplace Safety in 2020 following the historic election of Jacinda Ardern, the best result for the Labor Party in half a century. He added immigration to his portfolio in a mid-2022 cabinet reshuffle. Before becoming a Member of Parliament, he served on the City Council of Auckland. He also served in the Finance Sector Association.

Nanaiya Mahuta

Nanaiya Mahuta, a 26-year veteran parliamentarian, became New Zealand’s first female foreign minister following her 2020 election victory.

The 52-year-old has used his role to advocate for a diplomatic middle ground for Pacific nations trapped between the United States and China, saying late last year that the region was “not entirely comfortable with the superpower”. Is”.

With a traditional face tattoo that celebrates her Māori heritage, Mahuta has long supported Māori causes as a tribal member of Waikato-Tainui, Ngati Maniapoto and Ngati Manu. She is the adopted brother of the late Maori Queen and the daughter of respected Maori elder Sir Robert Mahuta.

Mahuta has also held the local government portfolio and pushed through controversial legislation to change the ownership structure of the country’s water infrastructure.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)