After a reporter asked him about the definition of “woman”, New Zealand’s prime minister was left speechless at a news conference.
Chris Hipkins, who assumed control after Jacinda Archern‘s departure, was asked how his government defines the word.
The politician seemed to take some time to think before he gave his answer.
Mr Hipkins responded, “Um…to be honest that question was a little out of left field”
“Well biology, sex, gender. Um.”
Then he paused and said, “People define themselves. People define their own genders.”
If Mr. Hipkins was pressed further, he said that “people identify themselves”.
He said, “I didn’t expect that question. So it wasn’t something on which I had pre-formulated an answer. However, gender identity is something that people can identify for themselves.
JK Rowling, the Harry Potter author, argued that trans women aren’t women because of biological sexual sex. He criticised Mr Hipkins for his response.
Rowling tweeted: “In an interest of balance, someone should ask women how Chris Hipkins is defined.”
Sean Plunket, the reporter, stated that he was asking this question after Sir Keir Starmer, UK Labour leader, made comments at the weekend in which he stated 99.9% women “of course don’t have a penis”, as he discussed his views on whether someone with a penis could be a woman.
Sir Keir said that there are a few people who identify as someone else than the gender they were born with and who “need legal help and a framework”.
Plunket was seen as controversial in NZ broadcasting, and was removed from Twitter earlier this year.
On Tuesday, Mr Hipkins spoke to NZ media and stated that he would still read Harry Potter to his children. He also reiterated that he was sticking to his answer.
He said, “Ultimately, it’s an emotionally charged issue for some people and I don’t want that to be a part of that as a leader.”
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