New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and the UK's Rishi Sunak.(Pic credit:Instagram)
Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor said the wine industry is New Zealand’s biggest export to Britain and will see at least NZ$25 million in tariffs disappear overnight…reports Asian Lite News
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins on Wednesday announced that Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between his country and the UK has come into force.
In a statement, Hipkins said that the benefits which will begin flowing from the FTA will provide a further big boost to New Zealand’s economy and will bring an up to NZ$1 billion ($600 million) increase to the country’s annual GDP.
“The economy is through the worst, with inflation having peaked and returning to the target range next year, good growth, and more workers coming in to help with skill shortages,” Hipkins said.
The #NewZealand-Britain Free Trade Agreement has entered into force from Wednesday to provide a further boost to New Zealand's economy, its prime minister said in a statement.https://t.co/Tw3zqpWXez
New Zealand businesses will immediately save around NZ$37 million from Wednesday, with the instant elimination of tariffs and new duty-free quotas covering 99.5 percent of current exports, he said.
Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor said the wine industry is New Zealand’s biggest export to Britain and will see at least NZ$25 million in tariffs disappear overnight.
Honey producers will no longer face a 16-per cent duty, and the dairy and red meat sectors will transition to duty- and quota-free access for the first time in 50 years.
The proportion of New Zealand export goods covered by an FTA has expanded from 52.5 per cent to 73.5 per cent since 2017 and shows the importance of these agreements to growing exports, O’Connor said.
PM Mod demanded comprehensive update on the concrete action taken by these foreign governments against the Khalistani elements before the G20 summit takes place..writes T Brajesh
Days after voicing concern over growing anti-India activities by pro-Khalistan extremists on foreign soil, during talks with various world leaders including the Prime Ministers of the UK and Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to see strong, convincing and credible action by the foreign governments against these elements.
He is keen to see that governments in the UK, the United States, Canada and Australia have something “substantial, concrete and significant” to share with India in terms of action taken against the pro-Khalistan extremists.
PM Modi wants envoys and diplomats at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and top officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and also ministers to keep interacting with their counterparts in these countries as a follow-up exercise on the action taken against the Khalistani extremists, diplomatic sources told The Sunday Guardian.
“After all, the heads of these countries have promised PM Modi to take strong steps against the elements who were found involved in anti-India activities abroad,” sources added. “Ministers, diplomats and security officials have been asked to mount pressure on these foreign governments in this regard during different meetings in India and abroad,” sources aware of the meetings at South Block told The Sunday Guardian.
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval will also, in talks with his counterparts from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and other countries, step up pressure for action against pro-Khalistan elements, sources added. Only a fortnight ago, NSA Doval discussed the heightened pro-Khalistan activity in the UK with Tim Ballow, who was on his way to Kerala to attend a G20 Sherpa meeting. “By the time the world leaders assemble here for the G20 Summit in September this year, there must be a comprehensive update on the concrete action taken by these foreign governments against the Khalistani elements.” This is the clear message from PM Modi, sources said.
London, Mar 20 (ANI): Khalistani elements attempting to pull down the Indian flag but the flag was rescued by the Indian security personnel at the High Commission of India, in London on Sunday. (ANI Photo)
In a telephonic conversation with UK PM Rishi Sunak recently, PM Modi called for strong action against “anti-India elements”. Sources say PM Modi raised the issue of the security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK. “When PM Modi invited Sunak for the G20 summit soon after raising this issue during the conversation, the PM in fact indicated that India would want to hear something on the action part before the summit takes place,” said informed diplomatic sources.
Bali, Nov 15 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with his United Kingdom counterpart Rishi Sunak on the first day of the 17th G20 Summit, in Bali on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)
Sunak conveyed to the PM that the UK considered the attack on the Indian High Commission in London by Khalistani elements to be “totally unacceptable” and assured the security of the Indian mission and its personnel. “But the time for rhetoric is over, there must be tough action now,” officials said, referring to “the instructions that have come from the top government leadership” here.
PM Modi was equally serious about action against Khalistanis during talks with Australian PM Anthony Albanese. PM Modi raised the issue of vandalism of Hindu temples in Australia by Khalistani extremists. Sources said that Australia has already launched a massive crackdown against Khalistani sympathisers.
According to sources, the Australian high commission has briefed the Indian government that three Khalistani supporters have been detained in Melbourne by the police there, and more are being rounded up on the basis of inputs provided by those in custody. The government system in New Zealand is also reportedly taking action on similar lines.
During his meetings and talks with counterparts in the US, Canada, the UK, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has been flagging the issue of anti-India activities by pro-Khalistan elements. Recently, he spoke on this issue with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Indian missions in London, British Columbia and San Francisco were vandalised by pro-Khalistan extremists following the police action against radical preacher Amritpal Singh in Punjab.
San Francisco, Mar 23 (ANI): Protesters waving Khalistan flags gathered outside the Indian Consulate amid heightened security, in San Francisco on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)
During talks with Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, two weeks ago, Jaishankar had put pressure on Ottawa seeking action against Khalistanis in Canada, terming the Khalistan issue as a national security concern for New Delhi.
The Canadian government is reported to have shared its action plan to be carried out against these elements in future. “However, India is waiting for reports on the actual action taken,” an official said.
In what is being viewed as part of the campaign to build pressure on foreign governments, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on 12 April called for action against Khalistani extremists for the attack on the Indian high commission in London. “Trade talks are underway but some credible action should be taken against the incident that happened in Britain,” said Goyal.
In another significant development that underlines the positive results of PM Modi’s diplomacy, a delegation of Sikh Americans told the visiting Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently that “the steps taken by PM Modi in the interest of the Sikh community, including their long-pending demands have resulted in the fizzling out of the separatist Khalistan movement”.
The delegation applauded the Modi government for being there for Sikhs and for implementing several demands for the Sikh community in the past nine years. It said that it is because of this, the Khalistan movement has fizzled out in the US. On this, diplomatic sources said, “The government here is waiting for a word from the Biden administration on the action taken in the US and on the over-all status.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is doing its part significantly in creating pressure on the UK and other countries to take action against the Khalistani extremists. MHA officials used the recently held India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue to discuss Khalistani activities in the UK and the protests and violent clashes at the Indian mission in London.
The dialogue, held in New Delhi, was led by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla. The UK delegation was led by the Permanent Secretary Home Office, Sir Matthew Rycroft. The Indian officials asked their UK counterparts to keep a close eye on Khalistani activities in their country and take action against the accused accordingly. Sources said that UK officials were told that Khalistani activists were plotting terror activities to be carried out in India.
In a strong message to Britain, the Indian side conveyed its concerns over the misuse of UK asylum status by pro-Khalistan elements to aid and abet terrorist activities in India. New Delhi also assured better cooperation with London to enhance the monitoring of UK-based pro-Khalistan extremists.
The arrangements are being made on a war footing to have Bumrah flown to Auckland at the earliest for the surgery…reports Asian Lite News
India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is likely to fly to New Zealand to undergo surgery for his back injury.
According to a Cricbuzz report, the medical team of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the managers of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) have finalised a surgeon named Rowan Schouten, who had worked on England pacer Jofra Archer
The arrangements are being made on a war footing to have Bumrah, who has been out of action for the last five months, flown to Auckland at the earliest for the surgery.
Schouten, in the past, had worked with renowned orthopedic surgeon Grahame Inglis, who had operated upon a few New Zealand players, including Shane Bond — the bowling coach of Mumbai Indians, who is likely to have suggested Schouten’s name.
The report further said that Schouten had also assisted Inglis in the surgery of Australian pacer James Pattinson while he also handled Ben Dwarshuis and Jason Behrendorff’s surgery, who had also struggled with back issues.
The recovery time for Bumrah is somewhere between 20 and 24 weeks, which means he could miss the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 and the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) in London, should India qualify.
The right-arm quick last played for India in a T20I against Australia, on September 25 2022 and went to miss the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup due to his back injury.
The current priority of the BCCI management is to get Bumrah ready for the World Cup in October-November.
2nd Test: New Zealand beat England by just one run after follow-on in Wellington.(photo:ICC/Twitter)
Pacer Neil Wagner was the hero for the Kiwis as he had James Anderson caught behind down the leg side to clinch a famous victory for New Zealand…reports Asian Lite News
New Zealand scripted history in Wellington on Tuesday as they became the fourth team ever to win a Test match after being forced to follow on when they pulled off a thrilling one-run victory over England in a classic final-day contest in the second Test.
Pacer Neil Wagner (4/62) was the hero for the Kiwis as he had James Anderson caught behind down the leg side to clinch a famous victory for New Zealand at Basin Reserve. New Zealand were asked to follow on after being dismissed for just 209 in their first innings in reply to England’s 435/8 declared. Kane Williamson’s 26th Test century on the penultimate day of a topsy-turvy contest gave them some hope.
England had to chase down 258 for victory in the fourth innings and they looked to be in control when Joe Root (95) and Ben Stokes (33) were at the crease and less than 60 runs were required.
But Wagner and Tim Southee (3/45) dug deep during a tense finale to ensure New Zealand picked up a thrilling triumph to level the two-match series at one game apiece.
New Zealand join three other teams to have won a Test match after being forced to follow on, with the most recent prior to this clash coming back in 2001 when India clinched an unlikely win against Australia in Kolkata.
The Kiwis’ winning margin of one run is just the second time in the history of Test cricket that a match has been decided by that narrow margin, with the only other occurrence coming in 1993 when the West Indies pulled off a similar triumph over Australia in Adelaide.
“It’s a pretty special Test win. The character that we’ve shown in the last three days has been very impressive and I’m proud of the guys to be able to bounce back after a tough first couple of days. It was just a great Test match to be involved in, only four times in the history of the game, so it was a very pleasing Test to be part of,” Southee told reporters after the match.
The match was not part of the current World Test Championship period, with both New Zealand and England already out of contention for reaching June’s final.
The loss was just England’s second since Brendon McCullum took over as coach early last year, with their next five-day contest coming in a one-off Test against Ireland at the start of June.
England then embarks on a five-match series against arch-rival Australia as part of this year’s Ashes series on home soil.
New Zealand host Sri Lanka for a two-match series at home next month, with the Asian side still with an outside chance of reaching the World Test Championship final, should results fall their way. (ANI)
5 romantic experiences in New Zealand that are perfect for your romantic getaway.(photo:IANSLIFE)
From Auckland, you can hop on a short ferry ride to Waiheke, the Island of Wine. If you’re visiting Queenstown, make sure to visit one of the many local wineries in Central Otago…reports Asian Lite news
The long, rolling valleys, the majestic mountain top peaks, the glittering coasts, and the brilliant colours that change the horizon from dawn to twilight are just a few of the natural beauties of New Zealand that inspire love. There is no better place to take a loved one and enjoy the beauty in their presence than here, where it’s difficult not to become fascinated by the postcard pictures all around.
Nothing beats a romantic getaway in New Zealand, whether it’s a picnic amidst breathtaking scenery or a flight in a hot air balloon among the sky. Here are the top 5 activities that will make your loved one happy and are recommended by Cupid:
5 romantic experiences in New Zealand that are perfect for your romantic getaway.(photo:IANSLIFE)
A romantic leap of faith
Leap into the unknown from heart-stopping heights as you take a romantic tandem bungy. All over the country you can leap from bridges, rail viaducts, specially made platforms perched on the edge of cliffs, and stadium roofs. Hold your lover’s hands and take a leap of faith from the Auckland Harbour Bridge against the backdrop of the beautiful Waitemata Harbour and the city skyline. In the Central North Island, just upstream from the Huka Falls, lies the Taupo Bungy — 47 metres above the Waikato River. You can also choose to be dunked in the Waikato River below at the end of your jump.
Experience a magical ride with Bubbles and balloons
Clink your Champagne glasses at dawn as your balloon lifts you quietly over an ornate natural tapestry of pastures, vineyards, forests, rivers, lakes and mountains. As you float over a world that is only just waking up, your partner’s smile will be as wide as the horizon as a romantic breakfast marks the end of your flight.
Wander among the vineyards
Toast yourselves with New Zealand’s world-famous wines, from silky Pinot Noir to crisp Sauvignon Blanc as you cycle through the gentle vineyard trails. New Zealand is a paradise for food and wine lovers. Take the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail to experience three of our best wine regions (Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough). From Auckland, you can hop on a short ferry ride to Waiheke, the Island of Wine. If you’re visiting Queenstown, make sure to visit one of the many local wineries in Central Otago.
5 romantic experiences in New Zealand that are perfect for your romantic getaway.(photo:IANSLIFE)
Go stargazing
Gaze into your loved one’s eyes beneath the Southern Cross and be awestruck by New Zealand’s dark night skies. Stargazing in New Zealand is a breathtakingly magical experience when experienced with a loved one, thanks to the dark, clear skies, unique celestial features, and otherworldly landscapes. For the best views, choose from five locations across New Zealand: Lake Tekapo, Aoraki Mount Cook, Wairarapa, Dunedin, or Great Barrier Island.
Picnic in private
Swoop in by helicopter to a secluded spot where a gourmet picnic hamper, fine New Zealand wine and an intimate setting just for two awaits your private indulgence. Try the Heli-Picnic — Alpine Luxury Tours in Queenstown. This is a once in a lifetime dining opportunity, an unforgettable picnic under the numerous waterfalls and dramatic glaciers off the beaten track. Fly over sheer cliff faces, pass the blue ice of a hanging glacier before descending 1,000m into a valley below.
Get to know the nuances and richness of MÄori Culture
We value our connections to our mountains, our oceans, our lakes, and our rivers, and also where we grew up…Nanaia speaks with N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe
New Zealand’s Maori culture is diverse and complex, encompassing both traditional and contemporary arts. Throughout the country, traditional arts such as carving, weaving, kapa haka (group performance), whaikorero (oratory), and moko (tattoo) are practiced.
Have you ever witnessed or seen a patriotic dance routine performed by a group of individuals vigorously stomping their feet? It is known as Haka, a traditional Maori Culture dance performed when two tribes meet during a war or when a visitor is welcomed. However, the song is now performed even on pleasant occasions.
We recently spoke with Nanaia Mahuta, New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Local Government, and Maori Development, who was in India for four days to highlight New Zealand’s subtle and rich Maori Culture. Read Excerpts…
In your words, describe New Zealand’s Maori culture.
New Zealand is a pretty young country but the history of the Maori people in New Zealand extends back around about thousand odd years ago when our ancestors traveled from across the vast Pacific Ocean to Aotearoa New Zealand. So, we have got a navigation history and when we settled there, we brought with us our histories and our traditions and our connection to the broader pacific roots through songs, through Whakapapa (RH1), through talking about our ancestral connections, our mythology, how we brought about the way in which the creation extended and all of that was brought to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Nowadays, we have got a number of tribes that have settled throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. While we share common connections through Whakapapa (RH2) or our ancestry, there are also slight differences as well.
We value our connections to our mountains, our oceans, our lakes, and our rivers, and also where we grew up. We have lots of stories for example about being the first place to see the sun, and how Maori captured and steered the sun to slow it down so that we have got a long time to experience the fullness of our lives in Aotearoa New Zealand. We have also got stories about how we live by the lunar calendar. So that dictates when we fish, when we plant, when we harvest, and when we have downtime to rest, and also when we have high energy time to undertake a number of activities during the various seasons.
So that’s a little bit about who we are as Maori in Aotearoa New Zealand and how we celebrate culture in our lives. What steps is the government taking to promote and protect New Zealand’s unique heritage?
For a long period of time, we celebrate what Maori culture means to who we are as a country. When I think about our National Day of Significance which is Waitangi Day which was recently celebrated, we recognised Waitangi which is in the far north as a special place and a place that celebrates how we came to be as a nation. Also, recently we have had a national holiday to celebrate Matariki, which is the lunar calendar, and the significance of it to New Zealand’s emerging identity connection to Maori culture. How are New Zealand’s Maori businesses giving back to society?
When I think about the Maori business generally, I think about the way in which we organize ourselves around family, around hapu (RH3), around our connection to the land and how we produce food, whether it be lamb or forestry or horticulture for Kiwi fruit. You will see Maori very much involved in those businesses. In terms of the tourism experience, we tell a lot of stories in our culture. So, in the far north for example the Waipoua Forest experience talks about TaneMahuta the largest tree in the forest, in our ancestral connection to TaneMahuta but also, we have got real challenges in our ecosystem. So that particular tourism experience gives back to the search around the kauri dieback (RH4) and what we can learn from Maori knowledge about looking after the kauri and adopting modern practices to address that particular disease among the kauri trees.
When I think about tourism experiences through the South that ensures that when you go and visit, for example, Kaitiaki adventures in Rotorua, you also contribute to the way they look after the natural environment. There is a four-wheel drive experience that takes you to explore the land and the forest, and for every tourist that has that experience, they also give a little bit back to the environment. There are examples down south where you have a marine experience and I personally think about Kaikoura whale watch tours every tourist that has that experience also contributes to ensuring that they look after the ecosystem. So, these are ways that you can have a tourism experience but also look after the environment and natural biodiversity that we have in Aotearoa. From the perspective of tourism, can Indians expect any cultural exchange programs?
We have had some exchanges. At the end of last year, we had TeWehi Haka (RH5) which teaches the Haka experience, our Maori cultural experience. They came to India and participated in the National tribal dance festival and shared some of our cultures through Haka, and Waiata songs, and through those types of interaction. That’s just one type of experience.
But also, there are more modern experiences as well. Our literary exchanges because we have a lot of writers who share a little bit about our culture and history as well.
Do you think can people from other cultures learn something different from your culture?
I think it’s not much about something different but what we share in common is people of cultures. We share a love for each other, we share a love for our connection to our special places, we share an understanding of how important it is to hold on to tell our stories and how we can make history and connection, linkages to places through songs, through dance, through an act, through storytelling and also through food. And those are the things that we share in common.
What we are different from is perhaps our place, how we connect to the pacific. And in our differences, we also share our commonalities. That’s the case for many cultures around the world.
What do you hope to gain from Inbound Indian tourists visiting New Zealand ?
I hope that people would see if they make the effort to travel all the way to New Zealand, which is a long way from India, that they spend time in our country and they travel around, they can have experiences that are very much targeted towards family experiences where it doesn’t so much matter what age you are, you can enjoy and experience a number of different experiences. Also, you get to get an insight into who we are as a people. Again, food is a great connector and music. So, sharing that experience for Maori is a really big task of conveying what we value as a people and what we are prepared to look after for the long term. So that our children and our grandchildren can continue to celebrate our culture and also look after the place that we love which is Aotearoa New Zealand.
Foreign Minister Mahuta also handed over the signed International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement to India’s External Affairs Minister, paving the way for New Zealand to join this effort…reports Asian Lite News
In the wake of continuing international concerns about security and peace in the region, India and New Zealand held discussions on Tuesday on their shared vision for a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
The discussions took place when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar hosted visiting New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta for a bilateral meeting in New Delhi.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two ministers discussed the whole range of bilateral matters, including economic cooperation, educational exchanges, defence engagements and people-to-people contacts.
“They exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and discussed India and New Zealand’s shared vision for a rules-based, peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” the MEA said.
Foreign Minister Mahuta also handed over the signed International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement to India’s External Affairs Minister, paving the way for New Zealand to join this effort.
EAM Jaishankar shared information about the discussions in a series of tweets.
“A warm and wide ranging conversation with FM @NanaiaMahuta of New Zealand this evening. Discussion covered our expanding ties that is being reflected in increased frequency of our contacts,” he tweeted.
He said that they spoke about trade, education, migration and mobility, cultural diplomacy, climate and health, especially traditional medicines in the bilateral context.
“Shared views on the global situation from our vantage points, including on the Indo-Pacific. Appreciated her perspectives of the region. Welcome New Zealand’s joining the @isolaralliance,” EAM Jaishankar added in another tweet.
The New Zealand Foreign Minister arrived in India on a four-day visit on Tuesday. She is accompanied by a business delegation and high-ranking officials. During her maiden trip to India as Foreign Minister, Mahuta will also visit Mumbai.
The official press release from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that Foreign Minister Mahuta’s visit closely follows that of EAM Jaishankar to New Zealand in October 2022.
India and New Zealand have strong bilateral connections that are supported by strong people-to-people contacts and shared democratic traditions and principles. The two nations are cooperating in a variety of fields, including economics, politics, defense, education, and science and technology, the MEA added. (India News Network)
Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand prime minister on Wednesday, with his predecessor Jacinda Ardern officially tendering her resignation…reports Asian Lite News
As the inflation grips New Zealand, newly sworn-in Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said on Wednesday that tackling the “inflation pandemic” will be his top priority.
The ‘bread-and-butter’ issues that New Zealanders are most concerned about are needed to be addressed, Hipkins told a press conference after his first cabinet meeting as Prime Minister.
Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand prime minister on Wednesday, with his predecessor Jacinda Ardern officially tendering her resignation.
The swearing-in ceremony held at the Government House saw Hipkins officially taking up the top job and Carmel Sepuloni becoming the deputy prime minister.
The unchanged inflation figure of 7.2 percent in the 12 months to December 2022, released on Wednesday, confirmed this is “the right immediate focus” for the government he led, Hipkins said.
The level of inflation was clearly not sustainable, he said, adding the cost-of-living pressures have been caused by the global economic situation.
Hipkins also compared the 7.2 per cent inflation in New Zealand with 7.8 per cent in Australia, 10.5 per cent in Britain, 10.3 per cent as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average, 11.1 per cent in the European Union.
As Prime Minister, he will talk with businesses in Auckland on Thursday, with global worker shortage expected to be one of main topics.
Hipkins will reshuffle the cabinet next week.
Besides the top leadership role, he himself will be the minister of national security and intelligence.
Announcing her resignation last week, Ardern said after five and a half years of the top leadership role, she could not keep going for another year or term after careful consideration.
Hipkins said on Tuesday he and Ardern have reflected on the last few years, adding “it’s a bittersweet moment”.
New Zealand’s 2023 General Election will be held on October 14.
The cabinet shuffle is slated for next week…reports Asian Lite News
Chris Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand Prime Minister on Wednesday, with his predecessor Jacinda Ardern officially tendering her resignation.
The swearing-in ceremony held in Parliament saw Hipkins officially taking up the top job and Carmel Sepuloni becoming the deputy Prime Minister, Xinhua news agency reported.
Prime Minister Hipkins will reshuffle the cabinet next week. Besides the top leadership role, Hipkins himself will be the minister of national security and intelligence.
Tackling inflation will be his priority, he said, as Stats NZ released on Wednesday the growth of New Zealand’s consumers price index remained 7.2 per cent in the 12 months to December 2022.
Announcing her resignation on last Thursday, Ardern said, after five and a half years of the top leadership role, she could not keep going for another year or term after careful consideration.
“Being Prime Minister has been the greatest honour of my life,” Ardern said, citing her cabinet’s achievement in alleviating child poverty and increasing welfare support and public housing stock.
On Tuesday with the presence of her successor Hipkins, Ardern made a de facto farewell speech as the Prime Minister.
The outgoing Labor leader on her last day as Prime Minister said that her departure should not be viewed as a negative commentary on New Zealand.
“I have experienced such love, compassion, empathy and kindness when I’ve been in this job — that has been my predominant experience,” Ardern said while visiting the town of Ratana with Hipkins.
Ardern said that she is not going anywhere and will still be the Member of Parliament for Mt Albert and she will be away from the centre of politics.
Travelling with Ardern, Hipkins said he and Ardern have reflected on the last few years, adding “it’s a bittersweet moment.”
New Zealand’s 2023 general election will be held on October 14, 2023.
Member of Parliament for Kelston and Cabinet minister Carmel Sepuloni was appointed deputy prime minister…reports Asian Lite News
The New Zealand Labor Party has confirmed Chris Hipkins as the party’s new leader and New Zealand’s 41st Prime Minister, said Chris Hipkins in a press conference on Sunday.
The Labor Party caucus meeting voted the Caucus member, Minister for Education, Police and Public Service and Leader of the House Chris Hipkins as the new party leader. Hipkins was the only nominee to replace Jacinda Ardern, who announced her resignation on Thursday, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Member of Parliament for Kelston and Cabinet minister Carmel Sepuloni was appointed deputy prime minister.
According to the New Zealand political system, the majority party of the Parliament forms the government and that party leader becomes the prime minister.
Speaking at the press conference after the Caucus meeting, Hipkins said that he will be officially sworn in as the Prime Minister on Wednesday. Cabinet reshuffle will be also arranged in the coming week.
He vowed to focus on domestic issues, saying that high inflation, high housing prices and law and order issue will be the major policy focus for his government, while going to China would be high on the priority list but not locking in any international travel plans yet.
Ardern announced on Thursday that she will step down as the prime minister and the leader of the Labor Party in February and she will not be seeking re-election this year.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s 2023 general election will be held on October 14, Ardern said.
