Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins was nearly half an hour behind the press conference he gave at 11 a.m. on Thursday – and his mother, who he stayed with, made sure to come out and apologize to the media on hold.

Hipkins held the press conference at a nature reserve near the house where he is spending his family vacation in Raumati.

Wellington Head of News for NZME Katrina Bennett was one of the reporters waiting for Hipkins on the reserve.

“The great thing about working this time of year is that rather than a horde of political observers at today’s Covid bailiff, @chrishipkins’ mom came over and apologized with us for her late son (with a tears of joy emoji) It doesn’t have to be, but moms will be moms. Such a treat, ”she posted on Twitter.

“He had his publicist there who said that Hipkins was late, but his mother got out on the runway and approached the waiting media group to apologize for being in. delay, ”Bennett said.

“She said he didn’t take a suit with him so he had to go back to his Upper Hutt home this morning to pick it up and then he got stuck in traffic. is why he was late, ”she added.

“She was so adorable, it was a really nice gesture to come and apologize. Great energy from mom coming down to apologize, moms are the best.”

The minister’s mother is Dr Rosemary Hipkins, chief researcher at the New Zealand Council for Educational Research.

Well dressed after his last minute mid-vacation run to Upper Hutt, Dr Hipkins ‘son answered reporters’ questions about Omicron exhibit events in the community, as his wife and children hung out in the play area nearby.

Presser in nature reserve sparks memes

There is a path from the house to where the presser stood and footage of Hipkins walking down that path was the subject of several memes this afternoon as New Zealanders travel completely to New Zealand on Omicron news and try to lighten the mood.

A few Twitter users found it amusing that Hipkins literally came out of the bushes to hold the press conference.

Hipkins today confirmed that DJ Dimension broke managed isolation rules by not waiting for his Day 9 test result before stepping out into the community.