Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party

Chris Hipkins is the Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party and Member of Parliament for Remutaka.

Chris’ vision of New Zealand is a country where Kiwis can create a better life for themselves and their families through hard work. His belief that every New Zealander should have the opportunities they need to succeed is why he got into politics – and it’s what drives him every day.

Chris became the Leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister in January 2023. Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Chris held a range of Ministerial portfolios. Following the 2017 election, he became the Minister of Education, Minister for the Public Service and Leader of the House. During this time, he oversaw a number of significant achievements, such as introducing free and healthy lunches in schools, and free apprenticeships and trades training which led to record apprenticeship numbers. On top of this, more schools and classrooms were built across the country, and almost every state school was upgraded through the School Investment Package. Chris later took on the ministerial portfolios for Health, COVID-19 and Police, where he delivered a range of measures to make New Zealand safer and fairer for everyone.

Growing up, Chris was strongly influenced by his parents, his education and the caring Hutt Valley community. This upbringing sparked his passion in public service and grounded him in the reality of working families with big aspirations. Chris is a father of two who loves spending time with his family, particularly in the Hutt Valley, his home.