Shock announcement: New Zealand Prime Minister John Key resigns
John Key is resigning as Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Key made the announcement at his weekly press conference this afternoon.
The Herald understands that Key’s wife Bronagh asked him to resign.
Key, his voice shaking with emotion, said he told his Cabinet of his decision this morning
“This is the hardest decision I’ve ever made and I don’t know what I’ll do next.”
Key cited family reasons for leaving, saying the job had required great sacrifices “from those who are dearest to me”.
His wife Bronagh had endured “many lonely nights” and his children Stephie and Max had been put under “extraordinary levels of intrusion”.
Key met his wife Bronagh while attending Burnside High School. The pair married in 1984 and have two children, Stephie and Max.
Bill English is expected to take over as Prime Minister and Steven Joyce is expected to take on the finance role.
The National Party caucus will hold a meeting on December 12 to decide the new party leader and Prime Minister.
Key said he would support whoever the caucus chose, but he endorsed Bill English as his replacement.
“There’s no way I could have served out a full fourth term,” said Key.
Continued below.
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Watch: Prime Minister John Key resigns in shock announcement
Being a politician had always come at a cost for his family he said.
Key said leaders seemed to stay too long and he felt this was the opportunity to go out on top.
He said he didn’t have any plans. He was looking forward to enjoying a slightly quieter life in which he would take posts on boards and spend time travelling with his spouse.
He also said it was the right time to leave, as National were polling at nearly 50 per cent and the economy was growing.
Asked what his legacy would be, Key said stabilising and growing New Zealand’s economy after the global financial crisis and weathering crises such as the Canterbury earthquakes.
Key said his main regrets were failing to ratify the Trans Pacific Partnership, not getting the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary opened, and not changing the national flag.
He had “given everything” to the job but had “nothing left in the tank”.
Key cancelled his weekly scheduled interview with NewstalkZB at the NZME offices in Auckland this morning, and instead was interviewed over the phone from Wellington.
Labour leader Andrew Little tweeted his well wishes to Key.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=1…
See video and more information at this MSM link.
TIME TO DIG FOLKS!
Trump won, Key’s handlers have put him out to pasture as no TTP will be signed?.
But you know what I reckon?, Key the zionist wasn’t happy about McCully’s stance re. Israel. Hence Key distancing himself from NZ politics.
Check out 9 billion dollar loan from the American Federal Reserve Bank in December 2016. So much for the “rock and roll” economy!
https://themillenniumreport.com/2016/12/is-this-really-why-new-zealands-prime-minister-john-key-just-resigned/
Cherry Lazar has some deep issues I’d say.
https://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11762219
Key tipped for IMF role.
What about supposedly being ‘burnt out’ and quality time with the wife?
Merry xmas to us! John Key said yesterday “theres some real class people in the national party waiting to step up..This statement beggars belief..Bill English? Judith Collins a two bit busted crook? Paula Bennet? God give me strength..Winston Peters for Prime Minister I say..at least u know exactly what u getting.Theres way more than meets the eye going on here.
Yeah, a real gallery of rogues Anna. Crusher Collins as PM? (Martin shudders at the thought).
By now you’ve probably heard that today I announced my resignation as Prime Minister and Leader of the National Party.
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Good afternoon
By now you’ve probably heard that today I announced my resignation as Prime Minister and Leader of the National Party.
This was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make but for me this feels the right time to go.
Throughout my 14 years in Parliament, including eight years as Prime Minister, I have given everything I could to this job that I cherish, and this country that I love.
It is my expectation that next Monday (12 December), National MPs will hold a special caucus meeting to select a new leader and later that day I will tender my resignation to the Governor-General.
The National Party is in great shape and I absolutely believe we can win the next election.
Announcing my resignation today gives the Cabinet and National Caucus plenty of time to settle in with a new leader before heading into the next election with a proud record of strong economic management, a commitment to the most vulnerable in our society and lots of ideas to keep lifting New Zealanders up in the world.
It has been my privilege to serve you all.
Watch my video about my resignation here, or read my full statement here.
Thank you.
Kind regards,
Rt Hon John Key
Prime Minister
There’s a stream of thought at the moment, that this could be a case of the rat leaving the sinking ship.
Big quake brewing in Wellington maybe?
Just speculation at the moment, but not to be shrugged off too lightly.
What wonderful news–he took this country from a 7 billion dollar debt to now over 100 million in 7 years
also he turned nz into an apartheid racist country –what goes around comes round john
See my comments to Wendy, Noel.
My initial feeling was elation, followed by suspicion. I’ll keep up with the news and speculation, and have plenty of contacts digging for the real story.
What wonderful news.
Hi Wendy,
Personally I’m in two minds about this. It’s awfully sudden, which could mean someone has Johnny by the balls, or alternatively, something big is brewing and Johnny is abandoning ship adore it goes down.
Either way, the official reason for his retirement is BS.