Jacinda Ardern resigned as New Zealand's prime minister and left Parliament earlier this year, saying that she "no longer had enough in the tank" to continue in politics.
The 44-year-old education minister must still garner an endorsement Sunday from his Labour Party colleagues. He would replace Jacinda Ardern, who shocked the nation when she announced her resignation.
The Labour Party now controls a majority of seats in Parliament, giving it a strong mandate to govern. The 40-year-old Jacinda Ardern has promised to be a voice for all New Zealanders.
The hunt is on to find the source of the coronavirus outbreak, now at 30 cases. The country is working to understand how the virus slipped through its defenses.