Chris Hipkins says the opportunity to become Prime Minister is the biggest privilege of his life and his eyes are wide open for the challenges that lie ahead.
Hipkins was the sole nominee today to replace Ardern, who announced her shock resignation on Thursday.
Hipkins has given his first media conference on Parliament's forecourt as he prepares to become Prime Minister.
The caucus has to formally confirm him as leader tomorrow but Hipkins says he has that commitment.
"I am absolutely humbled and honoured," he says about the Labour Party caucus choosing him.
"There is still a bit to go in this process. There is still a meeting tomorrow and a vote, and I don't want to get too far ahead of that.
"I do want to thank them for the way the process has been handled. I do think we're an incredibly strong team. We have gone through this process with unity and we will continue to do that."
News media question Chris Hipkins on becoming prime minister. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
He said he was "incredibly optimistic about New Zealand's future".
"I am really looking forward to the job. I am feeling energised and enthusiastic and I am looking forward to getting to the work.
"It's a big day for a boy from the Hutt," he tells reporters.
"It's an enormous privilege. It's also an enormous responsibility and the weight of that responsibility is still sinking in."
Hipkins said he will avoid comments on positions or policies today, because the process is not yet finished and he's not confirmed as Prime Minister yet.
Asked if Labour can win the election, Hipkins simply says, "Yes."
He will not address speculation about who his deputy prime minister will be at this time.
"I thoroughly enjoyed being a minister in Jacinda Ardern's Cabinet. I think the New Zealand public have seen the work I have done."
He said he has dealt with some challenging situations and he makes mistakes from time to time.
Addressing the Charlotte Bellis MIQ case, in which he disclosed some of her personal details, Hipkins said he has apologised to her and considers the case closed.
"There is nowhere else in the world that I would want to live and want to be raising my kids" than New Zealand, he says. The country was navigating economic turbulence but would come through it.
"The vast bulk of New Zealanders are very proud about what we achieved around Covid," Hipkins says.
"Yes, there's a vocal minority that would like to rewrite history but actually I think New Zealand as a country would be proud of what we achieved through Covid."
"I acknowledge that the lockdown in Auckland was really hard," he says.
"I think hopefully New Zealanders know me as someone who is up front, doesn't mind admitting when they've made a mistake, and can laugh at themselves."
Review the day's developments with RNZ's blog:
Chris Hipkins says his aim is to win the October general election. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Asked if he will stay on as opposition leader if Labour loses the October election, Hipkins says, "I don't intend to lose."
"I am here to make sure that New Zealanders who go out there and work hard to make a better life for their famlies can succeed and do so. ... That's what Labour has always stood for and it's absolutely why I'm in politics."
He said there was already a reshuffle coming. He had a lot of conversations with his parliamentary colleagues about the position once Ardern resigned and was very interested in keeping a consensus.
Asked about Ardern being burned out, Hipkins said: "I've had a good summer break, I've absolutely come back energised and refreshed and ready to get into it."
Asked for a little detail about himself, he says: "I grew up in the Hutt, my parents came from relatively humble beginnings and worked really hard to give a good life to my brother and I.
"I like to cycle, I like to garden. Maybe I don't have the best fashion sense in Parliament ... but I am who I am."
Asked about the abuse on social media that has been highlighted in the wake of Ardern's resignation, he said: "I think there has been an escalation of vitriol and some politicians have been a subject of that more than others," he said, calling some of the abuse Ardern has faced "intolerable."
"I go into this job with my eyes wide open of knowing what I've stepped into."
"No one's perfect, and I don't pretend to be," Hipkins says. "Jacinda Ardern has been an incredible Prime Minister for New Zealand. She was the leader for New Zealand at the time that we needed it," he says, citing her many challenges.
"Jacinda provided calm, reassured leadership which I hope to continue to do. We are different people, though, and I hope that people will see that."
Hipkins said that if Grant Robertson is happy to stay as finance minister, he is more than welcome to remain.
Asked if he's willing to be called "Prime Minister Chippy," he says, "people will call me what they call me".
Hipkins says the Māori caucus will continue to play a pivotal role in government.
"I've got an amazing team to work with and I intend to absolutely make the most of that.
"It is the biggest responsibility and it is the biggest privilege of my life. All of the experiences that I've had in my life have contributed to this point."
Asked if he believed he'd be prime minister one day, Hipkins says, "I don't really believe in destiny in politics. I actually believe in hard work."
Hipkins said he's talked to Ardern since the result became clear, and he would be sitting down with her soon as they have to work out details of the transfer of power.
"I've had a lot of messages from my constituency. They're happy to have the first PM from the Hutt I think for generations."
Hipkins has also spoken to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
"There are so many messages on my phone," he says.