Hipkins’ dad reveals he has ‘mixed feelings’ about son becoming Prime Minister
Chris Hipkins #ChrisHipkins
Incoming Prime Minister Chris Hipkins’ father has “mixed feelings” about his son taking on the country’s top job.
Hipkins was announced on Saturday morning as the sole nominee for the Labour leader role. He still needs to be confirmed as a leader by the Labour caucus, but it’s more than likely he will get the job and then be sworn in as New Zealand’s 41st Prime Minister.
Speaking to Newshub following Hipkins’ nomination, his father Doug said it had been a “pretty hectic” morning for his family.
“As you can imagine the phone hasn’t stopped going and the texts are coming through thick and fast,” Doug said. “So it has been a very very busy morning for us as well.”
He explained he had “mixed feelings” about his son becoming Prime Minister.
“Chris has worked hard and he is going to make a very good job of being Prime Minister,” he said.
Asked why he had mixed feelings, he said: “When you see what happened to Jacinda and the comments made about her, and what she had to put up with, you can’t help but get a bit disillusioned with politics I am afraid.
“We are quite proud of him but we are also proud of his brother. Both boys have grown up to be role models for the younger generation and we are very proud of that more than anything.”
He said Chris has been interested in politics since he was at school. He was head boy at Hutt Valley Memorial College – now Petone College – and president of the students’ association at Victoria University.
“I think it’s always been his passion. When he went to [university], he studied law for a couple of years but found that wasn’t really for him.
“He majored in political science. So he’s got a good background and politics… so it’s not surprising that he has, you know, gone as far as he’s gone in politics.”
In a school magazine in 1996, a poll of students said Chris was most likely to become Prime Minister, his father said.
Doug described Ardern as an “absolutely fantastic” Prime Minister.
“She has done a great deal for the country which is probably acknowledged more overseas than it is in New Zealand.”
The Labour caucus will meet on Sunday to decide whether to give Hipkins its endorsement. However, multiple Labour MPs have already posted on social media their congratulations to him and praise for his abilities.
Following the endorsement, Ardern will need to tender her resignation before Hipkins can be sworn in.
He will likely lead Labour into the election on October 14.