Wellington: As the only candidate nominated to lead the Labor Party, Chris Hipkins is expected to replace Jacinda Ardern as New Zealand's next prime minister, the party announced on Saturday.
Hipkins is expected to be formally sworn in as the party's new leader on Sunday at a meeting of the Labor Party's 64 MPs, or caucus.
Ardern unexpectedly announced on Thursday that she would resign as Prime Minister of New Zealand and not seek re-election because she had "no more in the tank" to do so.
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Hipkins, 44, who was first elected to parliament for the Labor Party in 2008, rose to fame in November 2020 after being named minister for COVID-19 and leading the government's response to the pandemic.
Hipkins currently serves as both Leader of the House and Minister of Police, Education and Public Services. According to a Horizon Research Quick Poll obtained Friday by local media outlet Stuff, Hipkins was the most preferred potential candidate among voters, supported by 26% of those polled.
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It has been speculated that Hipkins' confirmation of Labor MPs at a meeting on Sunday afternoon will be a mere formality. Prior to Hipkins' appointment, Ardern will submit her letter of resignation to the Canadian prime minister. His first press conference is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
Hipkins will serve as leader until the party's mandate is confirmed. There will be a general election on 14 October and according to some polls it will be difficult for the Labor Party to retain power.
According to a Taxpayers Union-Curia poll using data released on the Friday after Ardern announced she would step down, support for Labor had fallen to 31.7%, while support for the opposition New Zealand National Party stood at 37.2%.
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The New Zealand Green Party, Labor's longtime coalition partner, expressed interest in working with Hipkins in a statement. Green Party co-leader James Shaw said Chris would make a great prime minister. "We look forward to continuing our work together for the remainder of this term and into the next," he added.