Hipkins to be New Zealand's next prime minister

Education Minister Chris Hipkins is set to become New Zealand's next prime minister after he was the only candidate to enter the contest Saturday to replace Jacinda Ardern. Hipkins, 44, must still garner an endorsement Sunday from his Labour Party colleagues, but that is just a formality now.

An official transfer of power will come in the days to follow. Hipkins will have only a little more than eight months in the role before contesting a general election.  Hipkins rose to public prominence during the coronavirus pandemic, when he took on a kind of crisis management role.