Ardern’s resignation as New Zealand prime minister is a game changer for the 2023 election

[Still Waters]

New Zealanders will have a new prime minister by February 7 and will go to the polls on October 14, after two-term Labour Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation to spend more time with her family.

“For me, it’s time,” she said, speaking from the Labour Party’s retreat. “I just don’t have enough in the tank for another four years.”

Ardern said she would stay on until April as a local MP.

Ardern’s resignation will come as a shock to many New Zealanders, and especially to people overseas – given the international reputation she earned as prime minister over the past five years.

But this is less of a surprise for close watchers of New Zealand politics.

https://theconversation.com/arderns-resignation-as-new-zealand-prime-minister-is-a-game-changer-for-the-2023-election-198149

[+and-then]

12 hours ago, Still Waters said:

given the international reputation she earned as prime minister over the past five years.

That "international reputation" explains everything anyone needs to know about why she'd be bailing out...   Her work is well and truly done...

Edited January 21 by and-then

[Still Waters]

Chris Hipkins set to become next prime minister of New Zealand

A new prime minister for New Zealand has been chosen by the Labour party after the shock resignation of Jacinda Ardern on Thursday.

Chris Hipkins – the minister for education and policing, and one of the primary architects of the Covid response – was nominated uncontested by the party caucus on Saturday morning, after efforts by senior MPs to achieve consensus and secure a smooth transition in Ardern’s wake. The caucus is due to formally endorse his selection on Sunday.

Taking on the prime ministership would be “the biggest responsibility and the biggest privilege of my life”, Hipkins said on Saturday, speaking to reporters on parliament’s steps in his first appearance since the nomination. “The weight of that responsibility is still sinking in.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/20/chris-hipkins-set-to-become-next-prime-minister-of-new-zealand