New Zealand Prime Minister John Key resigns in shock announcement
Updated
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has announced his resignation in an unexpected move, saying it is the "right time" to step down and he is leaving on his own terms.
Key points:
- A new Prime Minister will be decided on December 12
- Mr Key said he would vote for his Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Bill English, to take over
- Malcolm Turnbull said Mr Key was "one of the most outstanding national leaders in the world today"
Mr Key said it had been a privilege to serve his local constituency, and said he would stay in parliament long enough to avoid a by-election.
He said there was no way he could have served out a full fourth term, citing family reasons for his departure, and did not want to mislead the public.
"I gave it everything I had," he said.
Mr Key said the decision was also about making room for new talent.
"One of the things that I have always believed in is making room for new talent, and let's be blunt, I have taken the knife to some other people and now I am taking the knife to myself to allow others to come through and have those opportunities, and that is a healthy thing," he said.
"We have got a caucus that is full of talent. We shouldn't be afraid of that."
Mr Key has been New Zealand's Prime Minister since 2008.
The next election will be held before November next year, and Mr Key said he hoped a new leader would give the National Party a chance to win again at the polls.
"Every leader brings their own different way of doing things and their own nuances and their own perception of different priorities, and that is what gives the government a chance to win a fourth term and fifth term — that when we go into the election that people see them as a little fresher, a little different, a little more interesting," he said.
"I think one of the reasons why governments fail at that fourth-term hurdle so often is that the leader never wants to leave, everyone says 'I have seen all of this before, I have seen the video' and it is not new.
"This is the chance for us to demonstrate a newness about us."
'Say it ain't so, bro': Turnbull praises Key
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the resignation of his "very good friend" would be a loss to New Zealand and the world.
"I sent him one very short message, 'Say it ain't so, bro'," he said.
"John Key is one of the most outstanding national leaders in the world today. He has done an extraordinary job for New Zealand."
Mr Turnbull said the New Zealand Prime Minister was a "class act", who was leaving the country in a strong position.
"He is leaving the economy in very strong state. The budget is in surplus, economic growth is strong," he said.
"That is due to the outstanding leadership John has shown. He has been a very influential player on the world stage.
"I have been to many international conferences with John Key and his words are heard with a respect and an attention that is way out of proportion to the size of New Zealand.
"New Zealand has never boxed above its weight as much as it does or as it has done with John Key as its Prime Minister."
In a statement, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten thanked Mr Key for his generous service and commitment to the alliance between Australia and New Zealand.
"During John's tenure Australia and New Zealand have worked side by side on the battlefield, during times of natural disaster and global economic challenge. Australia is fortunate to have New Zealand as a steadfast ally and friend," the statement said.
Key to vote for English to take over
The National Party caucus will hold a meeting on December 12 to decide the new party leader and prime minister.
Mr Key said he would vote for his Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bill English to take over.
Mr Key said one of his biggest regrets was not getting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) over the line.
"Hopefully we will at some point in a future administration," he said.
Mr Key is a former foreign exchange dealer who worked at firms including Merrill Lynch before being elected as the member for Helensville in 2002.
He won office for the National Party in 2008, ending the nine-year rule of Labour's Helen Clark.
Mr Key has won praise with his stewardship of the NZ economy in the aftermath of the global financial crisis and two devastating earthquakes around Christchurch.
ABC/Reuters
Topics: government-and-politics, new-zealand
First posted
