Who will be the successor?

Contenders include openly gay woman and politicians of Maori heritage

Those lining up to replace Jacinda Ardern include politicians seeking to become New Zealand’s first prime minister of Maori descent or its first openly gay leader.

Names in the running include Nanaia Mahuta, who became New

Zealand’s first female foreign minister after the 2020 election.

The 52-year-old has a traditional facial tattoo celebrating her Maori heritage.

She has long championed Maori causes as a tribal member of Waikato-tainui,

Ngati Maniapoto and Ngati Manu.

She is also the daughter of Sir Robert Mahuta, the adopted brother of the late Maori queen.

In government she has held the local government portfolio, pushing through controversial laws to change the ownership structure of the country’s water infrastructure.

Using the Maori name for New Zealand, she said: “I want to acknowledge the leadership of Jacinda Ardern and the contribution she has made to ensure a more tolerant and inclusive Aotearoa NZ at a time when so many challenges confronted her.

“She has led with grace, kindness and decisiveness. Thank you.”

Another contender, Kiri Allan, 39, New Zealand’s minister of justice (pictured), is also of Maori descent and would be the country’s first openly gay leader if elected.

Ms Allan left school at 16 and worked at a KFC restaurant.

She has previously criticised “tokenistic” use of the Maori language te reo at the department of conservation, where she was minister.

She said: “I encourage te reo use but in no way will I tolerate tokenistic use of reo by government agencies as an attempt to show government departments are culturally competent.”

Ms Allan, whose portfolio also includes disaster management, was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer in 2021.

Another possibility is Chris Hipkins, 44, who was first elected to parliament in 2008, and became a household name, fronting the government’s response to the pandemic as minister for Covid-19. Criticism grew over harsh lockdowns as officials struggled to control an outbreak in August 2021.

Michael Wood, 42, another contender, swiftly rose up the Labour ranks after entering parliament in 2016 with a landslide byelection win.