Who is Chris Hipkins, well-known among New Zealanders for his skill in combating COVID-19?

New Delhi: Following the resignation of incumbent Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last week, Labor leader Chris Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand’s prime minister on Wednesday in a formal ceremony.

On Sunday, the 44-year-old Hipkins, a former COVID-19 Response and Police minister was chosen to lead the Labour party and the nation. This follows Ardern’s sudden resignation, in which she said she had “no more in the tank” to lead the nation.

1978 saw his birth in the primarily working-class Hutt Valley, close to Wellington, where he attended the Hutt Valley Memorial College and Hutt Intermediate School (later Petone College). Hipkins, often known by his nickname “Chippy,” is well-known among New Zealanders for his prowess in combating COVID-19.