Chris Hipkins prepares to succeed New Zealand PM

WORLD, Jan. 21 (YPA) – New Zealand’s Education Minister is set to become the island nation’s next prime minister after the surprise resignation of Jacinda Ardern, who has announced her intention to resign.

Hipkins, 44, must still get an endorsement Sunday from his Labour Party colleagues in Parliament but that is just a formality now.

Ardern shocked the nation of 5 million people Thursday when she announced she was resigning after five-and-a-half years in the top role.

The lack of other candidates indicated party lawmakers had rallied behind Hipkins to avoid a drawn-out contest and any sign of disunity following Ardern’s departure.

Hipkins will have less than eight months in the role before contesting a general election. Opinion polls have indicated that Labour is trailing the main opponent, the conservative National Party.

Ardern indicated that her resignation would take effect no later than February 7, adding that the (ruling) Labour Party would elect a new leader on January 22.

E.M