Chris Hipkins, Labour MP, is set to replace Jacinda Ardern as the prime minister of New Zealand. He became the party’s only nominee for leadership on Saturday.
Ardern, in a shock announcement Thursday, said that she was resigning from the post as she ‘did not have enough in the tank’ to lead. The country holds a general election in October.
Hipkins was first elected to parliament in 2008. He was appointed minister for COVID-19 in November 2020 under Ardern’s leadership. The 44-year-old is currently the minister for police, education and public service.
If he receives Labour Party’s formal support on Sunday, Ardern will formally tender her resignation and Hipkins will be appointed as prime minister.
Hipkins was born on September 5, 1978. He is 44 years old. He attended Waterloo Primary School and Hutt Intermediate. He joined the Labour Party in 1996. The New Zealand politician completed a bachelor of arts degree majoring in politics and criminology at Victoria University, Wellington. He was also a student president in 2000 and 2001.
Chris Hipkins’ net worth is estimated at around $4 million, as per apumone.com. MPs in New Zealand are paid between $160,000 and $180,000 a year. Ministers get between $250,000 and $300,000. As per, Apumone, Hipkins’ salary is around $350,000.
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In September 1997, as a first-year student, Hipkins was one of dozens arrested while protesting the Tertiary Review Green Bill at Parliament.
Hipkins’ ‘spread your legs’ quote during the COVID pandemic was named the quote of the year at The Project’s 2021 awards.
In the famous slip of the tongue incident, he said it would be a “challenge for people in high-density areas to get outside and spread their legs when they are surrounded by other people”.
