Chris Hipkins sworn in as the new Prime Minister of New Zealand

Wellington:

Jacinda Ardern was officially replaced as New Zealand’s prime minister on Wednesday, having stunned the country last week by announcing her abrupt departure from the role.

New Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, 44, was sworn in by the Governor-General of New Zealand during a ceremony in the capital, Wellington.

“This is the greatest privilege and responsibility of my life,” Hipkins said after formally taking office.

“I am intrigued and excited by the challenges ahead.”

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.

He made his final public appearance as prime minister on Wednesday, walking out of the distinctive Beehive parliament building to thunderous applause from hundreds of onlookers.

Prince William was among the first to congratulate Ardern, who has become a global figurehead of progressive politics during her five years in office.

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 Joseph “Cat” Stevens, who played a concert in memory of the 51 people killed during the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre, also praised Ardern.

He said on Twitter that Ardern “kept New Zealanders together after the terror 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 struggled increasingly over the past two years, hampered by rising inflation, a growing recession and a resurgent conservative opposition.

Hipkins, the architect of New Zealand’s pandemic response, is now tasked with reviving the government’s declining popularity ahead of a general election in October.

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.

Hipkins previously said, “COVID-19 and the global pandemic have created a health crisis.

Hipkins has also condemned the “absolutely appalling” social media abuse leveled at Ardern, which intensified during her years as prime minister.

But 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 that 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.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)