4th Minister for National Security and Intelligence
In office 25 January 2023 – 27 November 2023
Prime Minister
Himself
Preceded by
Jacinda Ardern
Succeeded by
Christopher Luxon
Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services
In office 25 January 2023 – 27 November 2023
Prime Minister
Himself
Preceded by
Jacinda Ardern
Succeeded by
Christopher Luxon
Ministerial offices 2017–2023
41st Minister of Police
In office 14 June 2022 – 25 January 2023
Prime Minister
Jacinda Ardern
Preceded by
Poto Williams
Succeeded by
Stuart Nash
1st Minister for COVID-19 Response
In office 6 November 2020 – 14 June 2022
Prime Minister
Jacinda Ardern
Preceded by
Position established
Succeeded by
Ayesha Verrall
41st Minister of Health
In office 2 July 2020 – 6 November 2020
Prime Minister
Jacinda Ardern
Preceded by
David Clark
Succeeded by
Andrew Little
47th Minister of Education
In office 26 October 2017 – 25 January 2023
Prime Minister
Jacinda Ardern
Preceded by
Nikki Kaye
Succeeded by
Jan Tinetti
19th Minister for the Public Service
In office 26 October 2017 – 25 January 2023
Prime Minister
Jacinda Ardern
Preceded by
Paula Bennett
Succeeded by
Andrew Little
11th Leader of the House
In office 26 October 2017 – 25 January 2023
Prime Minister
Jacinda Ardern
Preceded by
Simon Bridges
Succeeded by
Grant Robertson
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Remutaka Rimutaka (2008–2020)
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 November 2008
Preceded by
Paul Swain
Majority
20,497
Personal details
Born
Christopher John Hipkins
(1978-09-05) 5 September 1978 (age 45) Hutt Valley, New Zealand
Political party
Labour
Spouse
Jade Hipkins
(m. 2020; sep. 2022)
Children
2
Residence(s)
Upper Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand
Alma mater
Victoria University of Wellington (BA)
Nickname
Chippy[1]
This article is part of a series about
Chris Hipkins
MP for Remutaka
Electoral history
Ministerial career
Leader of the House
Minister of Health
Minister of Police
Minister for the Public Service
Minister of Education
Minister for the COVID-19 response
Leader of the Labour Party
2023 leadership election
Prime Minister
Sixth Labour Government
Second term (2023)
International prime ministerial trips
Response to COVID-19 pandemic
2023 North Island floods
Cyclone Gabrielle
Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Cabinet
General elections
2023
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Christopher John Hipkins (born 5 September 1978) is a New Zealand politician who has served as leader of the New Zealand Labour Party since January 2023[2][3] and leader of the Opposition since November 2023. He was the 41st prime minister of New Zealand from January to November 2023, previously serving as the minister for the public service and minister for education from 2017 to 2023, and the minister for health and the COVID-19 response from 2020 to 2022. He has been the member of Parliament (MP) for Remutaka since the 2008 general election.
Hipkins was born and raised in the Hutt Valley in Wellington, and while at Victoria University of Wellington became heavily involved in student politics. He was elected president of VUWSA twice, in 2000 and 2001. Hipkins won the pre-selection for the typically safe Labour seat of Remutaka in the Hutt Valley in 2008, but due to the return of the National Party to governance won it by a thin margin. As Labour's education spokesperson during their nine years in opposition, Hipkins became regarded as a "cut-throat political player" and a sharp, quick-witted debater.[4][5] After Jacinda Ardern led Labour to victory in the 2017 general election, Hipkins assumed multiple portfolios within the Sixth Labour Government, serving variously as minister of education, police, the public service, and leader of the House. For his perceived competence within multiple roles and responsibilities, Hipkins became regarded as Labour's "fixer".[6][7]
As minister of health, Hipkins was responsible for the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand. The elimination policy became the primary focus of the 2020 election, helping Labour win in a landslide.[8] After the victory, Hipkins took on more responsibility, serving as minister for COVID-19 response from November 2020 to June 2022. On 21 January 2023, Hipkins became the sole candidate to succeed Ardern as leader of the Labour Party after she announced her resignation.[9] He became party leader after being elected unopposed on 22 January 2023, and was consequently appointed prime minister by the governor-general on 25 January 2023.[10] His premiership was faced almost immediately with the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods, and then by further flooding from Cyclone Gabrielle.[11] He led his party into the 2023 general election, with Labour losing to National. Subsequently, he became Opposition leader on 27 November 2023.
^McClure, Tess (24 September 2021). "'People are tired': Chris Hipkins, the New Zealand minister battling to eliminate Covid". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
^Whyte, Anna (25 January 2023). "Chris Hipkins formally sworn in as new prime minister". Stuff. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
^"Hipkins Named to Succeed Ardern as New Zealand Prime Minister". Bloomberg.com. 20 January 2023. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
^Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Yardley, Mike (23 January 2023). "Is Hipkins a caretaker PM or genuine election game-changer?". Stuff. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
^Manhire, Toby (21 January 2023). "'The guy just lives for DIY': What to expect from Prime Minister Chris Hipkins". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
^Whyte, Anna (20 January 2023). "Who is Chris Hipkins? The man set to be New Zealand's next prime minister". Stuff. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
^"Ardern set to win in New Zealand's 'COVID election'". Japan Today. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
^Mathias, Shanti (21 January 2023). "The beginner's guide to Chris Hipkins, our next prime minister". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 20 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
^McClure, Tess (22 January 2023). "New Zealand: Chris Hipkins taking over from Jacinda Ardern on Wednesday". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
^Frost, Natasha (27 January 2023). "Rain Batters New Zealand's Largest City, Causing Major Flooding". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
"ChrisHipkins formally sworn in as new prime minister". Stuff. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023. "Hipkins Named...
debate hosted by The Press between ChrisHipkins and Christopher Luxon was scheduled for 3 October, but after Hipkins caught COVID-19, Luxon pulled out...
The Shadow Cabinet of ChrisHipkins is the official Opposition in the 54th New Zealand Parliament. It comprises the members of the New Zealand Labour...
would resign as Labour leader. Following the unopposed election of ChrisHipkins as her successor, she resigned as leader of the Labour Party on 22 January...
from Prime Minister ChrisHipkins to attend the coronation of Charles III as part of the official New Zealand delegation. Hipkins stated it was important...
headed first by Jacinda Ardern (October 2017–January 2023) and later by ChrisHipkins (January 2023–November 2023), as Labour Party leader and prime minister...
leadership election, which saw Leader of the House ChrisHipkins elected unopposed to succeed her. Hipkins praised Ardern's leadership immediately and then...
Robertson became speaker for finance and racing in the Shadow Cabinet of ChrisHipkins. On 5 December 2023, Robertson was granted retention of the title The...
government is the centre-left Labour Party, led by former Prime Minister ChrisHipkins. Other opposition parties include the left-wing Green Party and the...
resultant leadership election ChrisHipkins was the only candidate and was confirmed as the new Labour leader on 22 January. Hipkins' premiership saw a shift...
will be out and about pashing on a dance floor." — COVID-19 Minister ChrisHipkins (referencing mask wearing) "[It is a] challenge for people in high-density...
prime minister in January 2023 when the Labour leadership switched to ChrisHipkins. Sepuloni was born and raised in Waitara, Taranaki, and attended New...
revenue responsibility, Grant Robertson and ChrisHipkins less sure". NZ Herald. Retrieved 26 July 2023. "Hipkins reveals who gets Kiri Allan's ministerial...
"ChrisHipkins sworn in as New Zealand's new prime minister". The Independent. Retrieved 26 January 2023. "Jacinda Ardern's successor ChrisHipkins sworn...
from a helicopter. Hipkins toured damaged areas of the city again on Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 February. On 30 January, ChrisHipkins and Wayne Brown both...
Holocaust victims and survivors. Labour leader and leader of the opposition ChrisHipkins described Peters as a "drunk uncle at a wedding" and accused him of...
declined to run and instead co-nominated senior minister ChrisHipkins' successful candidacy. Hipkins, as the new prime minister, continued Allan in the justice...
Zealand's ChrisHipkins sworn in as prime minister". Reuters. Retrieved 15 November 2023. "The compromise within Labour that sealed Hipkins another term...
reiterated the Government's commitment to combating smoking. Labour leader ChrisHipkins accused Costello of regurgitating the tobacco industry's talking points...
pejorative term used by the leaders of both major political parties (ChrisHipkins of the New Zealand Labour Party and Christopher Luxon of the New Zealand...
schools without the presence of a parent or guardian. Education Minister ChrisHipkins declined to intervene, citing policy issues. During the 2020 New Zealand...
Winston Peters (NZ First) Leader of the Opposition (Labour): Rt. Hon. ChrisHipkins Deputy Leader of the Opposition: Hon. Carmel Sepuloni Co-leaders of...
English musician ChrisHipkins (born 1978), Prime Minister of New Zealand (2023) Edith Hipkins (1854–1945), English painter Gavin Hipkins (born 1968), New...
Commission's political impartiality policy. On 27 February, Prime Minister ChrisHipkins criticised Campbell's Three Waters remarks as "inappropriate." On 28...
This is a summary of the electoral history of ChrisHipkins, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Leader of the Labour Party (2023–present), and Member...
2023). "Te reo Māori road signs supported by National says MP Chris Bishop; PM ChrisHipkins accuses party of 'dog whistle'". The New Zealand Herald. Archived...
Minister Hipkins traveled are: One: Belgium, China, Lithuania, Papua New Guinea, Sweden, United Kingdom Two: Australia Prime Minister Hipkins attended...
Global Information
