Chris Hipkins set to replace Jacinda Ardern as New Zealand PM

New Zealand Labour MP Chris Hipkins is set to replace Jacinda Ardern as prime minister after becoming the only nominee for the party's leadership.

He was first elected to parliament in 2008 and was appointed minister for Covid-19 in November 2020.

In Ms Ardern's shock announcement on Thursday she said she did not have "enough in the tank" to lead.

How long Mr Hipkins will be in office is uncertain as New Zealand holds a general election in October.

Mr Hipkins, 44, is currently minister for police, education and public service.

He will still need to be formally endorsed by New Zealand's Labour caucus on Sunday.

During her resignation announcement Ms Ardern, who at 37 became the youngest female head of government in the world when she took office in 2017, said the past five-and-a-half years had been the "most fulfilling" of her life.

However, she added that leading the country during "crisis" had been difficult - with the Covid-19 pandemic, Christchurch mosque shootings and White Island volcanic eruption taking place during her premiership.