That changed on Tuesday when Hipkins returned to New Zealand from Australia, where he was on holiday when Paul made her post.
Facing questions from reporters waiting at Wellington International Airport, he said he’d hold a media stand-up to comment on the allegations.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins was greeted by members of the media eager for answers as he arrived at Wellington International Airport on Tuesday. Photo / Jamie Ensor
At that press conference, Hipkins said throughout his time in politics he had “made a very conscious effort to keep my private life private, and to keep my family out of the spotlight, particularly my children”.
“You won’t find photos of my kids anywhere on social media. You won’t find me talking about them, beyond generic references to being a parent, anywhere in public,” said Hipkins.
He said he rejected the allegations Paul made and “the characterisation of those events”.
“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.”
Asked what his message was for New Zealanders aware of the allegations, Hipkins responded that he was “putting the best interest of my children first”.
“Marriage break-ups are very difficult. Everybody who’s been through that understands that marriage break-ups are very difficult. There are always going to be disagreements. There are always going to be things that you regret when your relationships break up. A public forum like this is not the way to litigate those.”
Labour leader Chris Hipkins told a stand-up in Parliament that he had always “made a very conscious effort to keep my private life private”. Photo / Marty Melville
While he said he denied the claims, Hipkins wouldn’t speak to each specific allegation, repeating that he didn’t wish to bring personal matters into a public forum.
The Labour leader said he hadn’t sought any legal advice about Paul’s post, but had sought advice “about the potential publication of allegations against me that are untrue”.
He wasn’t sure what had prompted Paul to make the allegations at this specific time.
In a Facebook post on Monday night, Paul said she had “had enough”.
“So many women are hurt by high profile men who just do what they want with no consequences. We get told all of the time that if we speak out then our lives will be ruined, our kids will be impacted,” Paul said.
“We get labelled as ‘crazy’ or defamatory when we tell the truth. Today I have had enough.”
Chris and Jade Hipkins married in 2020. They separated in 2022. Photo / Katie Kidman
Asked about the welfare of his children, he said they were currently with Paul “so I don’t know”, breaking into tears. Hipkins said he had not spoken with his former partner, who is currently overseas, since she made the allegations.
Hipkins hoped this issue wouldn’t affect Labour’s electoral prospects and said he had not considered standing down as leader.
“I have had a lot of lovely messages of support from Labour MPs,” he said.
Hipkins has two children with Paul. The pair were together for years before marrying in 2020 in a ceremony at Premier House.