Confusion swirled around claims and denials. Here’s how it unfolded.

It was fast-moving and both personal and public. It was deeply emotional and also hard to understand, as the claims at the centre of the tumult could not be reported in full by the media.

In only a few days, confusion swirled around claims and denials before the story reached a crescendo with Labour leader Chris Hipkins choking up at a hastily arranged media conference to reject allegations made by his ex-wife Jade Paul.

This is how the personal conflict became political.

Sunday 

♦ Jade Paul makes claims about her relationship with ex-husband Chris Hipkins on her private Facebook page. Some of the claims detail a lack of support during their relationship and after they separated in 2022. The claims do not allege any illegal activity. The post is later deleted.

Monday

♦ Images of Paul’s post are shared by other people on social media.

♦ The media reports that Paul, who has two children with Hipkins, has made unsubstantiated claims, without detailing what those claims are (legal and ethical considerations are in play here). 

♦ During a media conference about oil prices, Labour’s finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds is asked about the claims. “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 says.

♦ Hipkins makes a brief statement: “I reject the allegations entirely and don’t intend to make any further comment.”

♦ Paul does not give any interviews, but tells RNZ and Stuff she stands by her comments. (The Spinoff has contacted Paul.) 

♦ Media report that Paul makes a second Facebook post, which says: “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.

“We get labeled as ‘crazy’ or defamatory when we tell the truth.

“Today I have had enough.”

Tuesday

♦ Social media is awash with speculation, opinions and arguments about Paul’s claims, and new media reports and opinion pieces are published.

♦ Hipkins calls a media conference for 4.45pm on Parliament’s familiar black and white tiles. He says that during his time in politics, he has made a conscious effort to keep his family out of the spotlight, particularly his children. “You won’t find them anywhere on social media, you won’t find me talking about them, beyond generic references to being a parent, anywhere in public.

“I’ve made a real effort, based on a conscious decision I made when I first got into politics, that I would keep my private life private from my work and I intend to stick with that,” he said. Hipkins goes on to say that he denies the claims Paul has made. He denies ever having had an extramarital affair with a staff member while a minister and says his current relationship – he is engaged to Toni Grace – began a year after his separation from Paul.

He also says he has sought legal advice about the potential publication of the allegations, but that he hasn’t sought advice about Paul or her posts.

Reporters volley questions at Hipkins, which he fields without stumbling until one journalist asks how his kids are. He chokes up as he says, “My kids are with her, so I don’t know.”

The media conference is over in five minutes.

♦ Paul tells the Herald, “I 100% stand by everything I have said.”