In a blockbuster series of announcements, Labour says Jacinda Ardern has resigned as leader and Prime Minister and will be leaving politics, the general election will be held on October 14 and finance minister and deputy PM Grant Robertson will NOT stand for the leadership.
Labour will elect a new leader on Sunday.
Ardern had denied persistent rumours last year that she was intending to stand down ahead of this year's election.
However, she told the Labour caucus on Thursday that having reflected over summer: "I know I no longer have that bit extra in the tank to do the job justice. It’s that simple."
Ardern said holding such a privileged role as Prime Minister comes with responsibility, including the responsibility to know when you’re the right person to lead, "and also when you’re not".
"I have given my absolute all to being Prime Minister but it has also taken a lot out of me. You cannot and should not do the job unless you have a full tank, plus a bit in reserve for those unplanned and unexpected challenges that inevitably come along."
Ardern said she was not leaving because she believed Labour can’t win the election, "but because I believe Labour can and will win it".
"We need a fresh set of shoulders for the challenges of both this year and the next three.
"As to my time in the job, I hope I leave New Zealanders with a belief that you can be kind, but strong, empathetic but decisive, optimistic but focused. And that you can be your own kind of leader - one who knows when it’s time to go."
Ardern said she intends to remain the MP for Mt Albert through till April.
"This will give me a bit of time in the electorate before I depart, and also spare them and the country a by-election.
"Beyond that, I have no plan. No next steps. All I know is that whatever I do, I will try and find ways to keep working for New Zealand and that I am looking forward to spending time with my family again - arguably, they are the ones that have sacrificed the most out of all of us.
"And so to Neve, mum is looking forward to being there when you start school this year.
"And to Clarke, let’s finally get married."
In terms of the procedure to elect a new leader, the Labour Caucus has seven days to ascertain whether one individual holds more than 2/3rds support within caucus to become the new leader and Prime Minister. A caucus vote for a new leader will occur on January 22.
If no one receives 2/3rds support within caucus, the leadership contest will go to the wider Labour membership. This can happen in a short time frame and the Prime Minister has recommended to the Party that the process, if required, conclude no later than February 7.
Robertson, in explaining why he would not stand for leader, said when he in 2014 he failed to secure the leadership of the party for a second time he had indicated that he would not put himself forward again.
"My position has not changed.
"I have been a close up witness to the extraordinary work that Jacinda has done as leader and Prime Minister.
"The level of intensity and commitment required of Prime Minister is an order of magnitude greater than any other role. It is a job that you must unequivocally want to do in order to do it the justice it deserves. I have every confidence that there are colleagues within the Caucus who are both capable of doing the role, and have the desire to take it on. They will have my full support," Robertson said.
In terms of the election, Ardern said announcing the date early in the year provides New Zealanders with certainty "and has become the practice of this Government and the previous one, and I believe is best practice".
The Governor-General has been advised of the election date.
The Government’s intention is that the House will rise on Thursday, August 31 and Parliament will be dissolved on Friday, September 8.
Writ day will follow on Sunday, September 10 2023, and nominations will close at noon on Friday, September 15, 2023. Advance voting will start on Monday, October 2, 2023.
The last day for the return of the writ will be Thursday, November 9, 2023.
This is the announcement on Ardern's resignation:
Jacinda Ardern has announced she will step down as Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party. Her resignation will take effect on the appointment of a new Prime Minister.
A caucus vote to elect a new Party Leader will occur in 3 days’ time on Sunday the 22nd of January.
“Being Prime Minister has been the greatest honour of my life and I want to thank New Zealanders for the enormous privilege of leading the country for the last five and a half years,” Jacinda Ardern said.
“With holding such a privileged role comes responsibility, including the responsibility to know when you’re the right person to lead, and also when you’re not.
“I have given my absolute all to being Prime Minister but it has also taken a lot out of me. You cannot and should not do the job unless you have a full tank, plus a bit in reserve for those unplanned and unexpected challenges that inevitably come along.
“Having reflected over summer I know I no longer have that bit extra in the tank to do the job justice. It’s that simple.
“I have spoken to the Governor-General this morning to let her know.
“In addition to our ambitious agenda that has sought to address long term issues like the housing crisis, child poverty and climate change, we also had to respond to a major biosecurity incursion, a domestic terror attack, a volcanic eruption and a one in one hundred year global pandemic and ensuing economic crisis. The decisions that had to be made have been constant and weighty.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved over the last five years in spite of the many challenges thrown at us. We’ve turned around child poverty statistics and made the most significant increases in welfare support and public housing stock seen in many decades.
“We’ve made it easier to access education and training while improving the pay and conditions of workers. And we’ve worked hard to make progress on issues around our national identify - I believe that teaching our history in schools and celebrating Matariki as our own indigenous national holiday will all make a difference for years to come.
“And we’ve done that while responding to some of the biggest threats to the health and economic wellbeing of New Zealanders, arguably since World War Two.
“The Labour team are incredibly well placed to contest the next election. They are the most experienced team in the country and have shown they have the skills necessary to respond to whatever comes their way.
“I’m not leaving because I believe we can’t win the election, but because I believe Labour can and will win it. We need a fresh set of shoulders for the challenges of both this year and the next three.
“As to my time in the job, I hope I leave New Zealanders with a belief that you can be kind, but strong, empathetic but decisive, optimistic but focused. And that you can be your own kind of leader - one who knows when it’s time to go,” Jacinda Ardern said.
This is the statement on the election on October 14:
The 2023 General Election will be held on Saturday 14 October 2023, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today.
“Announcing the election date early in the year provides New Zealanders with certainty and has become the practice of this Government and the previous one, and I believe is best practice,” Jacinda Ardern said.
“Most recent elections have been held in the latter months of the year, so this year’s timing keeps with that tradition and is similar to the 2020 election date.
“Labour will be standing on our strong record of progress. I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved over these two terms. We are a strong, experienced and effective team that has successfully steered New Zealand through the greatest challenges our country has faced in decades.
“While I won’t be contesting the election, I know the issues that impact New Zealanders most will remain the focus of the Government through this year and into the election.
“The ability for families to make ends meet, to create new opportunities to get ahead and keeping the economy strong and stable in the face of international headwinds will continue to be our focus,” Jacinda Ardern said.
The Governor-General has been advised of the election date.
The Government’s intention is that the House will rise on Thursday the 31st of August and Parliament will be dissolved on Friday the 8th of September.
Writ day will follow on Sunday 10 September 2023, and nominations will close at noon on Friday 15 September 2023. Advance voting will start on Monday 2 October 2023.
The last day for the return of the writ will be Thursday 9 November 2023.
This is the statement from Grant Robertson on not standing for leader:
I am not putting myself forward to be a candidate for the leadership of the Labour Party. In 2014 when I failed to secure the leadership of the Party for the second time I indicated that I would not put myself forward again. My position has not changed.
I have been a close up witness to the extraordinary work that Jacinda has done as leader and Prime Minister.
The level of intensity and commitment required of Prime Minister is an order of magnitude greater than any other role. It is a job that you must unequivocally want to do in order to do it the justice it deserves. I have every confidence that there are colleagues within the Caucus who are both capable of doing the role, and have the desire to take it on. They will have my full support.
It is a privilege to be Minister of Finance. I recognise that as the country faces a challenging economic environment, experience, stability and continuity are critical. I remain absolutely committed to fulfilling that role, or any other one the new Leader will ask me to undertake. I am also committed to running in the 2023 election to help secure a further term for a Labour-led government.
I will not be making any further comment on the leadership until the process has concluded.
It has been the honour of my working life to have supported Jacinda as Minister of Finance and as Deputy Prime Minister. Her intellect, judgement and empathy mark her out as one of New Zealand’s finest Leaders. I believe that history will judge her tenure as Prime Minister as a period where New Zealand not only weathered many storms, but also made huge progress in becoming a stronger, fairer and more inclusive nation. As a colleague, a friend and a New Zealander I am incredibly grateful for her service and commitment and wish her every joy and success in the future.
304 Comments
The empress finally admits she has no clothes
I applaud Arden for the exemplary service she has given our nation during her Prime Ministership as I have many of her predecessors, be they from the left or right.
What I find vulgar is the vitriol shown by many of the commentators here. By all means voice your opposition to policy you disagree with but you do yourself a disservice when your only response is to engage in ridicule and belittlement.
While I don't care for the personalised hatred, but she used her personal life and character to achieve political advantage. Any attempt to be loved as a person in the political area, invites the same openness to political hatred.
Politicians who avoid involving their personal life in their political career often avoid such hatred.
Really? I don't feel she was any more open with her personal life than any other PM. Care to point to some examples?
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