Jacinda Ardern left New Zealand’s parliament by stepping down as prime minister, and hundreds of people gathered to bid her a tearful farewell before Chris Hipkins was quickly sworn in as her successor.
After leading the nation through a series of natural disasters, its worst-ever terrorist attack, and the Covid-19 pandemic, Ardern claimed last week that she no longer had enough in the tank.
Hipkins said he was motivated and excited by the upcoming challenges as he took the oath of office from Governor General Cindy Kiro in Wellington.
“This is the biggest privilege and responsibility of my life,” he said.
As Ardern left the noticeable Beehive-shaped parliament building, hundreds of workers and onlookers spontaneously started applauding. One of the first people to congratulate Ardern was Prince William.
William said, “I want to thank Jacinda Ardern for her friendship, leadership, and support over the years, especially at the time of my grandmother’s passing.
Rishi Sunak, the prime minister of the United Kingdom also praised Ardern’s strong leadership and kindness.
