WELLINGTON - (Xinhua) -- Chris Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand's prime minister on Wednesday, succeeding Jacinda Ardern, who formally submitted her resignation.

The swearing-in ceremony in Parliament saw Hipkins officially take over the top post, with Carmel Cipollone as his deputy.

Prime Minister Hepkins will carry out a cabinet reshuffle next week. Besides his position, he will also become Minister of National Security and Intelligence.

He said tackling inflation would be a priority, with New Zealand's CPI growth remaining at 7.2 percent in the 12 months to December 2022, Statistics New Zealand said on Wednesday.

Ardern said, when announcing her resignation last Thursday, after five and a half years as prime minister, that she could not continue for another year or another term after careful consideration.

"Being prime minister has been the greatest honor of my life," Ardern said, noting her government's achievement in alleviating child poverty, as well as increasing welfare support and public housing.

The next New Zealand general election will be held on October 14 this year.