Chris Hipkins, the former prime minister of New Zealand and current Labour Party leader, found himself at the center of a personal and political storm this week, following a series of allegations made by his ex-wife, Jade Paul. In an emotional press conference at Parliament on March 17, 2026, Hipkins tearfully denied all claims, striving to draw a clear line between his private life and the public eye.
The controversy erupted after Paul posted a lengthy message on her private Facebook page on Sunday evening, March 15. The post, which was soon deleted, quickly spread across social media and was picked up by mainstream news outlets. According to The Guardian and RNZ, the allegations included claims that Hipkins had an extramarital affair with a former intern—now his fiancée, Toni Grace—as well as accusations of insufficient emotional and financial support following a miscarriage and after their separation in 2022.
Hipkins, who had been vacationing in Australia when the story broke, returned to Wellington on Tuesday, March 17. Met by a throng of reporters at the airport, he moved swiftly to address the situation, announcing a press conference later that afternoon. With his voice breaking at times, Hipkins categorically denied all the claims made by Paul. He was adamant that he would not be drawn into a public "backwards and forwards" over the matter. "I reject the allegations that she’s made and the characterisation of those events, and I don’t intend to get into a backwards and forwards on those. I don’t think that would be the best thing for anybody involved, but particularly not for my children," Hipkins told reporters, as quoted by Stuff.
Throughout the conference, Hipkins reiterated his longstanding commitment to keeping his personal life separate from his political career. "In all the time that I’ve been in politics, I’ve made a very conscious effort to keep my private life private. And to keep my family out of the spotlight, particularly my children," he explained, according to NZ Herald. He acknowledged that marriage breakups are inherently difficult and that disagreements are inevitable, but stressed that airing such matters in public was not in anyone’s best interests—especially his children’s.
One of the most serious allegations was that Hipkins had an affair with Grace while still married to Paul. Hipkins flatly denied this, providing a detailed timeline to clarify the situation. He explained that Grace had interned in his parliamentary office around 2010, but that he did not meet Paul until 2013. "My relationship with Toni started in 2023, over a year after Jade and I separated," Hipkins stated, as reported by BBC. He emphasized that there was no overlap between his marriage to Paul and his relationship with Grace, adding, "During the time that I was with Jade, absolutely not."
The couple, who married at Premier House in early 2020, share two children. They separated in 2022, a fact Hipkins made public shortly after becoming prime minister in January 2023. At the time, he asked for privacy, acknowledging the pressures families face in the public eye. "A year ago, my wife and I made the decision that we would live separately, that we would do everything we can to raise our children together. We remain incredibly close. She’s still my best friend," Hipkins said in 2023, as noted by RNZ.
Hipkins’s relationship with Grace became public during his election night concession speech in October 2023. The couple announced their engagement in November 2025. Grace, now 40, was once an intern in Hipkins’s office but did not become romantically involved with him until long after his marriage to Paul had ended.
When questioned about the impact of the allegations on his children, Hipkins became visibly emotional. "My kids are with ... my kids are with her. So I don’t know," he said, pausing as he fought back tears. He added that Paul was not currently in the country, according to Stuff and The Guardian.
Asked whether he had sought legal advice, Hipkins clarified that he had not considered legal action against Paul herself, but had sought counsel about the possible publication of "allegations against me that are untrue." He declined to comment further on the nature of this advice, emphasizing again his preference to avoid public litigation of private matters.
Hipkins also addressed concerns about the potential political fallout for the Labour Party. With a general election set for November 7, Labour is currently trailing the ruling National Party coalition led by Christopher Luxon. Despite the controversy, Hipkins expressed confidence in his position and the support of his colleagues. "I hope not," he said when asked if the situation could damage Labour. He added that he had received "a lot of lovely messages" of support from party MPs and made it clear that standing down was not something he was considering at this time.
Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds, speaking to reporters about unrelated economic issues on March 16, acknowledged the difficulty of the situation. "Marriage breakups are hard, especially when you have children involved in it. This is a very difficult situation. It involves a marriage breakup. It involves very personal information between a politician and an ex-partner. I’m not going to wade into that," she said, as reported by NZ Herald.
Paul, for her part, has stood by her allegations, stating in a subsequent post, "So many women are hurt by high-profile men who just do what they want with no consequences." The original post, while deleted, had already made a significant impact, sparking debate about privacy, gender, and the scrutiny faced by public figures and their families.
As the dust settles, Hipkins remains focused on his role as Labour leader and on protecting his family’s privacy. He has made it clear that he will not engage further on the specifics of the allegations, hoping instead to shift the conversation back to policy and public service. For now, the nation watches closely, as personal and political narratives collide in the run-up to a pivotal election.