Chris Hipkins
A pragmatic and resilient politician who steered New Zealand through the final phase of the COVID-19 pandemic as its 41st Prime Minister.
Born 1978 (age 48)·Prime Minister of New Zealand in 2023·Birthday: September 5·Generation X
Biography
Chris Hipkins rose to the top not as an ideologue, but as a fixer. A lifelong Wellingtonian, his political career began in the backrooms, working as a political advisor before winning the seat of Remutaka in 2008. In government, he earned a reputation as a competent, no-nonsense minister, taking on complex and demanding portfolios like Education, State Services, and, most crucially, the COVID-19 Response. As 'Minister for COVID-19,' he became the public face of New Zealand's pandemic management, explaining policies with a clarity that cut through fear. When Jacinda Ardern stepped down in 2023, the Labour Party turned to Hipkins for his steadiness and administrative skill. His brief tenure as Prime Minister was dominated by economic pressures and natural disasters, requiring a focus on bread-and-butter issues. Though his government lost the subsequent election, his legacy is that of a dedicated public servant who shouldered immense responsibility during a national crisis with a focus on getting the job done.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Chris was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Chris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as New Zealand's Minister for COVID-19 Response, managing the country's strategy through the Omicron wave and reopening.
- Became the 41st Prime Minister of New Zealand in January 2023 following Jacinda Ardern's resignation.
- Oversaw major reforms in the education portfolio, including the removal of charter schools and changes to NCEA.
- Elected as the Member of Parliament for Remutaka in 2008 and has held the seat since.
Did You Know?
He attended the same high school (Waterloo) as former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, though they were not there at the same time.
Hipkins is a known fan of the 'Lord of the Rings' films and attended the Wellington premiere of 'The Return of the King.'
Before politics, he worked at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
He once accidentally referred to himself as 'Chippy' during a formal state visit, embracing his common nickname.
“I'm a pretty normal Kiwi bloke who happens to have an abnormal job.”
