Chris Hipkins addresses allegations made by ex-wife

Chris Hipkins’ ex-wife, Jade Paul, made a Facebook post on Sunday evening that quickly grabbed attention. 

It made a number of allegations of a personal nature.

The Labour leader finally addressed them in a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, after arriving back from Australia. He made it clear that he would not be dragging the matter out publicly. 

“In the time I have 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.”

“I reject the allegations she's made and the characterisation of those events, and I don't intend to get into a backwards and forwards on those.”

He got emotional, particularly after being asked about his children, and said he did not know how they were, because ‘they are with her’. 

He said he had not had contact with Jade, adding she was ‘out of the country’. 

He confirmed he had not sought legal advice about the post, but said he has sought some advice about the "potential publication of allegations ...that are untrue".