Who among the following has been named as the Prime Minister of New Zealand in January, 2023?
- (a)Jacinda Ardern
- (b)Cindy Kiro
- (c)Carmel Sepuloni
- (d)Chris Hipkins
Correct — D, Chris Hipkins. After Jacinda Ardern's surprise resignation announcement on 19 January 2023, Hipkins was the only nominee for the Labour Party leadership and was confirmed unopposed on 22 January 2023. He was sworn in as New Zealand's 41st Prime Minister on 25 January 2023 by Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro. A senior Labour minister who had earlier led the country's COVID-19 response, he took office without a general election and served until the October 2023 election.
- (a)Jacinda Ardern — Ardern was the outgoing Prime Minister (2017-2023) who announced her resignation on 19 January 2023 — the person Hipkins replaced, not the newly named PM.
- (b)Cindy Kiro — Dame Cindy Kiro is the Governor-General of New Zealand — the ceremonial head of state who administered the oath to Hipkins — not the Prime Minister.
- (c)Carmel Sepuloni — Sepuloni became Deputy Prime Minister under Hipkins (the first person of Pacific descent in that post), not the Prime Minister.
In a Westminster parliamentary system the Prime Minister is the leader of the party that commands a majority in Parliament, so a mid-term change of party leader changes the PM without any general election. When Ardern stepped down, the Labour caucus chose Hipkins, who thereby became head of government.
The question packs four New Zealand figures who were all in the news in January 2023 — the outgoing PM, the Governor-General, the incoming Deputy PM and the incoming PM. Candidates must track exactly who took the top job rather than who was merely prominent.
- Chris Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand's 41st Prime Minister on 25 January 2023, succeeding Jacinda Ardern.
- Ardern announced her resignation on 19 January 2023; Hipkins was elected Labour leader unopposed on 22 January 2023.
- He was sworn in by Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro; Carmel Sepuloni became Deputy Prime Minister.
- Hipkins had earlier served as the minister leading New Zealand's COVID-19 response.
- Confusing the Governor-General (Cindy Kiro) with the Prime Minister
- Assuming a general election is required to change the Prime Minister
UPPSC/UPSC current affairs frequently ask 'who was named/appointed as X of country Y' from the exam-year news cycle, testing office-holder precision.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Whom did Chris Hipkins succeed as Prime Minister of New Zealand in January 2023?
- (a)Bill English
- (b)Jacinda Ardern
- (c)John Key
- (d)Christopher Luxon
Answer(b) Jacinda Ardern — she announced her resignation in January 2023.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Who was the Governor-General of New Zealand who administered the oath of office to Chris Hipkins in 2023?
- (a)Patsy Reddy
- (b)Cindy Kiro
- (c)Carmel Sepuloni
- (d)Helen Clark
Answer(b) Cindy Kiro — Governor-General of New Zealand.