Candidates to replace his prime minister New Zealand Jacinda Ardern closed today at 22:00 Greek time (09:00 Saturday local time) and there was only one nomination.

Chris Hipkiss is set to replace Jacinda Ardern as Labor leader and New Zealand prime minister as he was the only candidate nominated for the position, his party announced.

Hipkiss is expected to be named as the new leader at a meeting of 64 Labor MPs or at the convention on Sunday.

Hipkiss, 44, was first elected to Parliament for the Labor Party in 2008 and rose to prominence while trying to fight the pandemic when he was appointed COVID-19 Minister in November 2020. He is currently the Minister of Police, Education, Public Services and serves as the Head of Parliament.

Labor leader Duncan Webb said earlier that nominations close at 9am on Saturday and a candidate will need the support of at least 10% of Labor MPs in Parliament to be nominated.

If there was more than one candidate, the election would be held on Sunday in caucus.

The winner will take over as prime minister until the next parliamentary elections. Ardern, 42, said on Thursday that she no longer has the strength to continue leading the country, she will step down no later than early February and will not seek re-election.

^{Source: APE-MEB, Reuters}