Chris Hipkins is set to become New Zealand’s next prime minister after being named as Labor’s sole candidate to replace leader Jacinda Ardern.
Hipkins, the country’s education minister, has been tipped to succeed Ardern, who announced this week that she would step down as prime minister in February, ending her nearly five-year tenure as leader.
The 44-year-old was named in a Labor party statement on Saturday morning, local time, as the sole nominee to replace Ardern, according to media reports.
Hipkins, who was first elected to parliament in 2008, is expected to be confirmed as Labour’s new leader on Sunday, when the party’s 64 MPs meet.
The New Zealand Green Party, Labour’s traditional coalition partner, said in a statement that it looked forward to working with Hipkins.
“Chris will be an excellent prime minister and we look forward to continuing to work together, throughout this term and beyond,” Green leader James Shaw said.