New Zealand's Education Minister Chris Hipkins is set to become the country's new prime minister following the surprise resignation of Jacinda Ardern.

Hipkins was the only candidate to enter the race to replace Ardern on Saturday.

The Labour Party still needs to formally endorse Hipkins' nomination, which is expected to take place on Sunday.

"The Labour Party caucus will meet at 1pm on Sunday to endorse the nomination and confirm Chris Hipkins as Party Leader," said a statement by senior Labour Party member Duncan Webb.

As leader of the Labour Party, he will then go on to become the 41st prime minister.

Hipkins led New Zealand's COVID-19 response

The 44-year-old politician became a leading figure in New Zealand's response to the global pandemic, serving nearly two years as the COVID-19 response minister.

Hipkins, who was also serving as the country's police minister along with his responsibility as education and public service minister, will have around eight months in the PM role before contesting general elections due to take place in October.

On Thursday, Ardern announced she would be stepping down from her role by February 7 after five and a half years, telling members of her Labour Party: "I just don't have enough in the tank for another four years."

Ardern was at the helm during natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the country's worst ever terror attack — the Christchurch mosque shooting — in which 50 people were gunned down by a right-wing extremist.

kb/rt (Reuters, AP)