New Zealand

Chris Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand’s 41st prime minister on 25 January, after his predecessor, Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation on 19 January. Ardern’s resignation came as a surprise to most observers, and she cited professional burnout as the reason for her decision. Hipkins will lead the Labour Party in New Zealand’s 14 October general election.

Jacinda Ardern Chris Hipkins

New Zealand’s parliament will discuss lowering the voting age from 18 to 16, after the country’s Supreme Court ruled the current age limit was discriminatory, as legal protections against discrimination in New Zealand begin at that age. Although the ruling does not compel parliament to lower the voting age, only to debate it, supporters for the proposed change celebrated the decision as a step in the right direction. 

Elections

A study by University of Auckland researchers found significant health inequities between Maori and non-Maori New Zealanders driven by a lack of access and underutilization of primary care by Maori adults. The researchers’ estimated systemic inequities in healthcare provision cost $860 million year, the overwhelming majority of which is borne by the Maori community. The study is the first to attempt to quantify the effects of systemic inequities in the New Zealand healthcare system. 

Indigenous Rights Inequality