AUCKLAND, Jan 21 — Poised to be New Zealand’s next prime minister, Chris Hipkins became a household name leading the nation’s closed-border crackdown on Covid-19 and...
AUCKLAND, Jan 21 — Poised to be New Zealand’s next prime minister, Chris Hipkins became a household name leading the nation’s closed-border crackdown on Covid-19 and describes himself as a decisive, straight-talking politician.
The red-headed Hipkins won plaudits for his near two-year term as the Covid response minister in a country that shut its borders to keep the coronavirus out, only fully reopening to the outside world in August last year. Hipkins has been police minister since June last year, a key role given criticism of the government’s record on crime, in addition to serving more than five years as education minister and public service minister.
“My parents came from relatively humble beginnings and worked really hard to provide a good life for my brother and I,” Hipkins added, vowing to give New Zealanders the opportunities to improve their lives. Asked whether having a red-haired prime minister would be a historic moment for the country, he said: “I think it was about time we had a ginger at the top.”
Although known as a personable and laid-back operator, Hipkins was involved in some high-profile spats with Australia’s former conservative government.
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