New Zealand's next prime minister will be Christopher Luxon or Chris Hipkins
Associated Press ·
New Zealand is choosing a new government in a national election that concludes Saturday. But one outcome is already known: The next prime minister will be a man named Chris. The leaders of the two biggest parties are Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins. Luxon, from center-right National, has been prime minister since 2023. Hipkins, from center-left Labour, was prime minister for nine months before losing the 2023 vote. Neither leader is popular, and the phrase “battle of the Chrises” is used to reflect voter apathy. The name Christopher was popular in New Zealand until the mid-1980s, explaining the number of politicians called Chris.