Chris Hipkins sworn to be New Zealand's PM, pledges to focus more on country's economy

Chris Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand's 41st prime minister on Wednesday after Jacinda Ardern unexpectedly resigned last week. Mr Hipkins, 44, pledged a back-to-basics approach that focused on the economy and what he called an "inflationary pandemic". Also Read: Chris Hipkins | New Zealand's new prime minister, the troubleshooter in Jacinda Arden's cabinet, will have less than nine months before contesting a tough general election, with opinion polls showing his Labor Party is lagging behind its Conservative opposition.

New Zealand Governor General Cindy Kiro led the brief inauguration ceremony in front of her friends and colleagues after accepting Ardern's resignation. "This is the greatest privilege and responsibility of my life," Mr. Hipkins said at the ceremony. "I am full of energy and looking forward to the challenges ahead. Carmel Sepuloni was also sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister, the first time a person of Pacific Islander descent has taken office.

She congratulated Mr. Hipkins and thanked him for the trust he had placed in her. After the ceremony, Mr. Hipkins casually told reporters, "It feels pretty real now, Mr. Hipkins is known to many by the nickname "Chippy," befitting his upbeat demeanor and home handyman skills. He served as Minister of Education and Police under Ardern. He rose to public prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic. when he took on a sort of crisis management role. But he and other liberals have long been overshadowed by Ardern, who has become a global icon of the left and embodied a new style of leadership.

Last week Ms Ardern said she was stepping down after more than five years in the position because she no longer had "enough in the tank" to do the job. "It's that simple," he said. Making her last official appearance as Prime Minister on Tuesday, she said what she would miss most was the people because they were the "joy of the job". On Wednesday morning, she was greeted with hugs and goodbyes by dozens of former staff and admirers on Parliament's Esplanade as she exited the building.

Ms. Ardern plans to stay on as junior lawmaker until April to avoid triggering a special election before October's general election.