NZ PM resigns, to stand down Feb 7

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she is stepping down as New Zealand's leader and will not contest this year’s general elections. 

New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern said "So today, I am announcing that I will not be seeking re-election and that my term as Prime Minister will conclude no later than the 7th of February. This has been the most fulfilling five and a half years of my life, but it has also had its challenges. I know what this job takes, and I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice. It is that simple. But I absolutely believe and know, there are others around me who do. We achieved a huge amount in the last five years, and I am so proud of that."

Her announcement came as a shock to people throughout the nation of 5 million people. Ardern, whose empathetic handling of the nation's worst mass-shooting and health-driven response to the coronavirus pandemic led her to become an international icon but who faced mounting criticism at home. Ardern became an inspiration to women around the world after winning the top job in 2017 at the relatively young age of 37.