He is viewed as a pragmatic politician who can position himself as more of a centrist.
SYDNEY—Chris Hipkins, a lawmaker best known for serving as New Zealand’s Covid-19 minister, is poised to become the country’s next leader after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said earlier in the week that she would step down.
Mr. Hipkins, a minister who currently oversees the education, police and public service portfolios, told reporters on Saturday that he is the only nominee to lead New Zealand’s center-left Labour Party, setting him up to become prime minister. Mr. Hipkins still needs to win a party vote, but political analysts said that is now effectively a formality.
