New Zealand’s prime minister, Chris Hipkins, has tested positive to Covid-19 and will sit out five days of campaigning ahead of the election on 14 October.
Hipkins’ campaign team cancelled his Sunday morning plans after the Labour leader woke up unwell in Auckland. A test subsequently showed the prime minister had caught Covid, scotching his plans during a critical phase of the campaign.
“He has cold and flu symptoms that began yesterday. He will be isolating for five days or until he returns a negative test,” a spokesperson for the prime minister said.
“He will continue with engagements he can undertake via zoom.”
In a post on Instagram, Hipkins said he would try to keep up campaign engagements remotely.
“Bugger! After a rough night I woke up this morning feeling pretty unwell and just got this test result,” he wrote.
“I’m in close contact with New Zealanders on the campaign trail and I don’t want to pass it on to anyone, so I’ll be following the guidance and isolating for a few days or until I get a negative test.”
New Zealand no longer has mandatory isolation periods in place, though Hipkins is choosing to do so under its recommended health advice.
The 45-year-old has fallen ill at a crucial phase of New Zealand’s election campaign, with his governing Labour party already well behind in the polls. Advance voting opened from 27 September for some New Zealanders and the third leaders’ debate is scheduled for Tuesday night.
Labour has looked likely election losers for much of the year, but Mr Hipkins was judged a clear winner of last week’s leaders debate and was campaigning with renewed vigour after that boost.
“The campaign might have started slow but I’ve decided I’m going to enjoy the last two-and-a-half weeks of it and so this is the level of energy you’re going to see from me,” he said on Wednesday after the debate.
“It’s been a challenging year and our campaign probably took a wee while to get up a decent head of steam but I’m really enjoying myself now and I’m fully going to enjoy the next two-and-a-half weeks.”
Mr Hipkins’ momentum will now come to a halt, with deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni stepping up in his place for the launch of the party’s manifesto in Auckland on Sunday.
Mr Luxon offered kind thoughts to his rival in a social media post from the campaign trail in Auckland.
“Get well soon Chris Hipkins. Will see you back on the campaign trail before too long,” Mr Luxon said.
Australian Associated Press contributed to this report
