WELLINGTON ¨C Chris Hipkins, who led New Zealand¡¯s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to replace Jacinda Ardern as the country¡¯s next prime minister after emerging as the only candidate nominated to lead the Labour Party, the party said Saturday.

Hipkins is expected to be confirmed as the new leader at a meeting of Labour¡¯s 64 lawmakers, or caucus, on Sunday.

¡°I think we¡¯re an incredibly strong team,¡± Hipkins told a news conference after being announced as the sole candidate.

¡°We¡¯ve gone through this process with unity and we¡¯ll continue to do that,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m feeling really fortunate to be working with such an amazing group of people who have a real commitment to the service of the people of New Zealand.¡±

In a surprise announcement on Thursday, Ardern said she had ¡°no more in the tank¡± to lead the country and would step down and not seek re-election.

First elected to parliament for the Labour Party in 2008, the 44-year-old Hipkins became a household name fronting the government¡¯s response to the pandemic after being appointed minister for COVID-19 in November 2020.

Hipkins is currently minister for police, education and public service, as well as leader of the House.

A Horizon Research snap poll obtained by local media organization Stuff on Friday showed that Hipkins was the most popular potential candidate among voters, with the backing of 26% of those surveyed.

Hipkins¡¯ confirmation by Labour lawmakers at a meeting on Sunday afternoon is expected to be a formality. Ardern will then tender her resignation to the governor general before Hipkins is appointed.

If confirmed, Hipkins will be prime minister until the party¡¯s term ends.

A general election will be held on Oct. 14, with some opinion polls showing Labour will struggle to hold on to power.

A Taxpayers¡¯ Union-Curia poll released Friday based on data from before Ardern¡¯s announcement she would resign showed Labour¡¯s popularity falling to 31.7%, while the opposition New Zealand National Party was backed by 37.2% of respondents.

New Zealand Green Party, Labour¡¯s traditional coalition partner, said in a statement that they were looking forward to working with Hipkins.

¡°Chris will make an excellent Prime Minister and we look forward to continuing our work together, for the rest of this term and the next,¡± said Green Party co-leader James Shaw.