Chris Hipkins, the new Prime Minister of New Zealand

Chris Hipkins was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of the country on Wednesday after Jacinda Ardern handed in her resignation. He was sworn in by Governor-General Cindy Kiro during a ceremony in the capital Wellington.

The 44-year-old new Prime Minister believes that “this is the biggest privilege and responsibility” of his life.

Talking to the media after his first cabinet meeting as the new Prime Minister, he said, “New Zealanders will absolutely see in the coming weeks and months that cost of living is right at the heart of our work programme.” He however refrained from making any comments on the new policies when pressed on by the media saying that he “would not create any policy on the fly”.

Chris Hipkins also known as Chippy” Hipkins described himself as the “regular, ordinary Kiwi” from a working-class background. He had however announced previously that he would keep his children and family away from the media owing to scrutiny and pressure Jacinda Ardern and her family was put under.

He also criticized the social media for the “utterly abhorrent’ hate and abuse levelled towards Jacinda Ardern.

Jacinda Ardern had handed in her resignation earlier this month stating that she no longer has “enough in the tank” to lead the country. On her last day as the Prime Minister of the country, she visited Ratana where she was greeted by a throng of well wishers who thanked her and she said, she was now ready for newer chapters in her personal life and ready to be a backbench MP in the parliament.