New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has announced his temporary withdrawal from political engagements in order to care for his young daughter who in the hospital.
Hipkins, who replaced Jacinda Ardern earlier this year, has largely kept his family life private, but informed New Zealanders today of the harrowing private battle he is dealing with away from politics.
Hipkins revealed that both of his children suffer from a blood condition called Von Willebrand Syndrome, which requires urgent medical intervention when they experience issues like bleeding noses or other health complications.
He said he would work from hospital as his four-year-old daughter underwent necessary treatment.
Hipkins said he would return to work in the near future and thanked his colleagues for taking over his responsibilities during his absence.
He extended his appreciation to blood donors, acknowledging that his daughter’s treatment is down to the generosity of blood donors in New Zealand.
“I don’t normally talk publicly about my kids because I want them to grow up out of the public spotlight, but sometimes it’s unavoidable,” he said.
“Both my kids have a blood condition called Von Willebrand Syndrome. It means that sometimes when they get bleeding noses or other health issues they need a bit of extra medical help to get sorted.
“Today my four-year-old is in hospital for some needed treatment, so for the rest of the day while that is happening I’ll be working from the hospital while I’m focused on her.”
When Hipkins assumed the top job in January, he revealed that he and his wife had separated and had been living apart for a year.
He said the decision to live separately had been “in the best interest of our family”, while requesting privacy.
Mr Hipkins acknowledged that the split had become an open secret in Wellington and acknowledged that the pressure of political life was very hard for a family to bear.
“Being a politician’s partner and a minister’s partner, when you’re in the public spotlight as I have been, particularly during the Covid response, it’s bloody hard,” he said.
“Families come under an enormous amount of pressure.”
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