Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in "Israel"
Joint statement: The United States will cut down tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China will cut down tariffs on American goods from 125% to 10% for the same period
US-China trade talks joint statement: Agreement to temporarily reduce tariffs for 90 days
Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obaida: Al-Qassam has decided to release the Zionist soldier holding American citizenship, Edan Alexander, today
Israeli media: The army was informed of a ceasefire in Gaza to release captive Idan Alexander, starting 12 pm
Qatari Foreign Ministry: Qatar and Egypt welcome Hamas' announcement of its agreement to release American Aidan Alexander.
Hamas says to release US captive Edan Alexander.
Al Mayadeen's sources: Trump will announce that Hamas will release US captive Edan Alexander from Gaza.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: Israeli aircraft bombed the coastal province of Hodeidah on the Red Sea, west of Yemen.
The Israeli occupation military issues a bombing threat against the Yemeni ports of Ras Isa, Hodeidah, and Salif.

Incoming New Zealand PM calls out Ardern's 'abhorrent' treatment

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Jan 2023 10:18
3 Min Read

The new Labour party leader and incoming Prime Minister says he accepts being "public property" after assuming the position but "not his family".

  • x
  • dsad
    New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern (R) and her chosen successor Chris Hipkins arrive for their caucus vote at Parliament in Wellington, on January 22, 2023. (Mark Mitchell/New Zealand Herald via AP)

New Zealand's successor for the prime minister role and current Minister of Police described the treatment that outgoing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern received from "some segments" of the country as "abhorrent".

Ardern announced her resignation on Thursday, during which she confessed that she no longer had "enough in the tank" to lead the country - amid poll data a day before the resignation showing a decline in popularity for her party and a rise for the Nationals Party.

Following New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern's resignation, Chris Hipkins is set to head the ruling Labour Party and replace Ardern as PM.

Hipkins, who also goes by the nickname "Chippy", played a major role in the country's response to the pandemic and played a troubleshooter for Ardern, amping up his competence and capabilities. 

"The way Jacinda has been treated, particularly by some segments of our society -- and they are a small minority -- has been utterly abhorrent," Hipkins stated.

"It does not represent who we are as a country," said the Police Minister.

Read more: New Zealand adopts new anti-Russian, Belarus sanctions

Hipkins noted that he understands that taking the country's leadership will make him "public property". 

However, he told reporters, "My family aren't."

The incoming PM said he wanted his young children, six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter, to live a "typical Kiwi kid life," stressing that his divorce was his personal issue.

Related News

China, New Zealand ink range of multi-industry deals amid warming ties

50,000 New Zealander teachers walk out of jobs, demand pay raise

"I have seen the enormous scrutiny and pressure placed on Jacinda and her family and so my response will be to keep my family completely out of the spotlight," he noted.

In her resignation, Ardern expressed that it was time for her departure from the position.

"I am human. We give as much as we can for as long as we can and then it's time," she said.

Ardern is set to leave her position on February 7, but she will continue as an MP until the upcoming election this year in October, while Hipkins, who will be sworn in on Wednesday, will become the 41st prime minister of New Zealand.

The new leader announced that he will be focusing in his term on improving the country's economy.

"Covid-19 and the global pandemic created a health crisis. Now it's created an economic one and that's where my government's focus will be," he said.

He also announced that Carmel Sepuloni will become the first deputy PM of Pacific Island descent.

"I want to acknowledge the significance of this for our Pacific community," she said.

"I've received so many humbling messages about another glass ceiling being smashed."

Around 8% of the country's 5.1 million population identifies as Pasifika, a citizen of Pacific Island descent.

As the world’s youngest female head of government elected as prime minister in 2017 at age 37, Ardern led New Zealand through attacks such as the two mosques in Christchurch and disasters like the White Island volcanic eruption.

When she was asked how she would like her country to remember her, she replied, “As someone who always tried to be kind.”

  • Chris Hipkins
  • New Zealand
  • Jacinda Ardern

Most Read

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025
Pakistan downs an Indian jet and hits a military base in Kashmir escalation.

Pakistan downs 3 Indian jets, hits military base in Kashmir escalation

  • Politics
  • 7 May 2025
A Yemeni gunman walks past paintings depicting rockets and scenes in solidarity with Gaza, displayed on a roadside fence in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, May 5, 2025 (AP)

Oman brokers US-Yemen ceasefire, Israelis in dark regarding deal

  • Politics
  • 6 May 2025
Saree

Yemeni Armed Forces target key Israeli sites, USS Truman

  • MENA
  • 7 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Digital Apartheid? Report Exposes Social Media Bias Against Palestinians
Technology

Digital apartheid? Report exposes anti-Palestine social media bias

Norway divests from Israeli fuel firm Paz over West Bank involvement
Palestine

Norway divests from Israeli fuel firm Paz over West Bank involvement

A Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II performs a demonstration flight at the Paris Air Show, in Le Bourget, east of Paris, Tuesday, June 20, 2017. (AP)
Politics

UK government sued over jet parts linked to Gaza bombing

Text from the CatGPT page of the OpenAI website is shown in this photo, New York, February 2, 2023 (AP/Richard Drew)
US & Canada

Different nations, different truths: How AI shapes global views: FP

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS