Leadership hopefuls will gather on Sunday when the centre-left
Labour party caucus meets to elect a new leader, who will become
prime minister. Here's what will happen:
WHO CAN VOTE, AND HOW?
The 64 Labour members of parliament, known as the caucus, will
meet in private at 1 p.m. local time (0000 GMT) on Sunday to
elect a new leader. Those who can't make it can vote by proxy.
The winner requires at least two-thirds of the votes, or 43
members.
Hopefuls need seven colleagues to make the ballot: at least 10%
of the caucus, excluding themselves. Nominations must be
received by 9 a.m. local time on Saturday.
With Labour holding a majority in parliament, whoever they elect
will become prime minister, helming the country for a little
more than eight months before a general election set for Oct.
14.
If the general election were held today, Labour would lose
power, according to a Taxpayers Union-Curia poll released on
Friday using data from before Ardern stepped down.
WHAT IF THE CAUCUS CAN'T DECIDE?
They keep going. Multiple votes are allowed, with the lowest
polling candidate eliminated each round. The caucus has until
Jan. 26 to decide.
If the caucus is unable to pick a new leader by then, the vote
will be expanded to include party members and affiliated unions.
The caucus vote will be weighted at 40%, party members at 40%
and unions at 20%.
WHO ARE THE FRONTRUNNERS?
There are four. Immigration, Police and Transport Minister Chris
Hipkins is a household name for his role leading the
government's COVID-19 response. He declined to rule out running
on Thursday.
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta is also expected to run after 26
years in parliament.
Transport Minister Michael Wood and Minister of Justice Kiri
Allan are newer faces in parliament, elected in 2016 and 2017,
respectively. Allan would become the first openly gay leader if
elected.
(Reporting by Lewis Jackson and Lucy Craymer. Editing by Gerry
Doyle; Editing by Alasdair Pal)
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