New Zealand PM John Key resigns

[webfact]

New Zealand PM John Key resigns

 

John Key has announced that he will resign as prime minister of New Zealand, after eight years in the job.

 

Mr Key called it "the hardest decision I've ever made," adding "I don't know what I'll do next."

 

Bill English is expected to take over until the National Party holds a caucus to choose a new PM.

 

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38204424

 

-- © Copyright BBC 2016-12-05

[webfact]

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - New Zealand Prime Minister John Key resigns in surprise move after 8 years as leader.

[PatOngo]

But they only lost the cricket by 68 runs.......rather a dire reaction!

[OMGImInPattaya]

John who?

[Mosha]

He said on BBC it was time to go home.

Sent from my SMART_4G_Speedy_5inch using Tapatalk

[webfact]

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key resigns after 8 years 
NICK PERRY, Associated Press

 

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand's popular Prime Minister John Key stunned the nation on Monday when he announced he was resigning after eight years as leader.

 

Key had been widely expected to contest his fourth general election next year. But he said he wanted to ensure he didn't make the mistake that some other world leaders have done, and instead wanted to leave while he was on top of his game.

 

Speaking in a shaking voice, Key said he had made personal sacrifices for the job and the role had taken a toll on his family.

 

Key said his National Party caucus would meet Dec. 12 to decide on a new party leader and prime minister, and that he expected to officially hand in his resignation that same day.

 

Key said he would back his deputy Bill English for the role.

 

The New Zealand dollar fell by nearly 1 percent on the news and was trading at $0.71 U.S.

 

Key was a successful currency dealer before first he became a lawmaker in 2002. He had a quick rise, becoming leader of his center-right opposition party in 2006 and then winning his first general election to become prime minister in 2008.

 

He won subsequent elections in 2011 and 2014 and retained remarkably high popularity ratings. His party was a clear favorite to win again at next year's election, at least until his announcement.

 

Key said that steering the country of 4.7 million through the economic crisis of 2008 and on to relative economic success was a proud accomplishment. He also talked about the importance of standing beside the people of Christchurch after an earthquake in 2011 killed 185 people.

 

"Simply put, it has, for me, been the most remarkable, satisfying and exciting time of my life," he said. "But despite the amazing career I have had in politics, I have never seen myself as a career politician. I have certainly never wanted my success in politics to be measured by how long I spent in Parliament."

 

But he said the role came with costs.

 

"For my wife Bronagh, there have been many nights and weekends spent alone, many occasions that were important to her that I simply could not attend," he said. "My daughter Stephie and my son Max have transitioned from teenagers to young adults while coping with an extraordinary level of intrusion and pressure because of their father's job."

 

He said he wasn't sure what life after politics would bring, other than he would probably take up positions on a couple of boards. He said he would remain on as a member of parliament long enough that he wouldn't force a special election ahead of next year's general election.

 

"All I can say is that I gave it everything I had," he said. "I have left nothing in the tank."

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-12-05

[ezzra]

 

In a country where there are several times more sheep than people

I would have found it rather hard to govern, those sheep can be pretty

stubborn,, beside, maybe there's more money to be made in currency dealing

than being a PM of 4.7 people....

[Asiantravel]

he was one of the staunchest supporters of the TPP so it's probably because he can see that it's going to disintegrate.

The New Zealand people and the rest of the world don't know how lucky they are to get rid of this guy

[maoro2013]

Australia also has more sheep than people but are thought of as different to NZ

[elgordo38]

10 hours ago, OMGImInPattaya said:

John who?

Who and what. The political grass must be all gnawed down in N.Z and its time to look for greener pastures with better money and benefits. Wonder if he gets a pension from the gitgo. 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

7 hours ago, Asiantravel said:

he was one of the staunchest supporters of the TPP so it's probably because he can see that it's going to disintegrate.

The New Zealand people and the rest of the world don't know how lucky they are to get rid of this guy

Yes we do.

He has come across as an out of touch elitist with the housing crisis. "Crisis, what crisis?"

Sad considering he lived in a state house as a child.

I'm happy to see the back of him.

[williamgeorgeallen]

nz is standing strong, all credit to the guy if it was anything to do with him. think my kids will have good prospects when i move them home.

Edited December 5, 2016 by williamgeorgeallen

[Roadman]

14 hours ago, Asiantravel said:

he was one of the staunchest supporters of the TPP so it's probably because he can see that it's going to disintegrate.

The New Zealand people and the rest of the world don't know how lucky they are to get rid of this guy

Absolute garbage. Typical leftie lazy arse, government is my mother garbage. For a country that depends on trade being in the TPP was a no brainer. And that has nothing to do with his decision to retire which is totally to spend time with his family.

And the NZ has lost the best PM we have ever had and doubt his retirement will have any impact whatsoever on the rest of the world. 

Retired are you? Looking to live overseas if not yet retired? Enjoy your Kiwi superannuation compliments of  and thanks to JK. 

Edited December 5, 2016 by Roadman

[Kiwiken]

Am glad to see the back of him. The Leader of the Pack of dogs chewing on the Peoples back. In a time of extreme Housing crisi this Guy sell Government owned houses. Instead of building 30,000 Houses after the Chch earthquake he stepped back and let the market decide. Hence people pay $500-700 week for cold old houses or still cram in Garages. And he is called Our best prime Minister. God we need saving then. The best may yet be to come. But we have had some good PM's MJ Savage, Norman Kirk, Jack marshall and keith Holyoak sadly after the fall of the R Muldoon regime the far right Friedmanites have run Our Country into the ground. making it a speculators paradise. 

I have fought all my life for the Welfare state a system designed to get you back on your feet if you fall over through no fault of your own. But it has been modified and abused. Time to return to the state of 1935. Lessons learned and protection for the future. Long Live the people.

[Cats4ever]

He is/was a conservative type that I could live with. No religious mumbo jumbo and he is rational. I wish him well and would like the weirdo right in Oz to take note.

[elgordo38]

18 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Yes we do.

He has come across as an out of touch elitist with the housing crisis. "Crisis, what crisis?"

Sad considering he lived in a state house as a child.

I'm happy to see the back of him.

There will be lots of political backs to see in the future. Once they get their fill at the trough they move on its and endless line of troughs for the politically correct? (must be another word I could use)

[Asiantravel]

14 hours ago, Roadman said:

Absolute garbage. Typical leftie lazy arse, government is my mother garbage. For a country that depends on trade being in the TPP was a no brainer. And that has nothing to do with his decision to retire which is totally to spend time with his family.

And the NZ has lost the best PM we have ever had and doubt his retirement will have any impact whatsoever on the rest of the world. 

Retired are you? Looking to live overseas if not yet retired? Enjoy your Kiwi superannuation compliments of  and thanks to JK. 

 

we can see how well informed you are

(or did you simply drink the TPP  Kool-Aid )

the TPP would not have benefited the New Zealand people or indeed any other ordinary people around the world in any way.

John Key just like every other politician was looking after his retirement fund.

 

https://theintercept.com/2016/07/05/despite-what-media-says-tpp-isnt-about-free-trade-its-about-helping-corporations/

 

 

 

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

16 hours ago, Roadman said:

Absolute garbage. Typical leftie lazy arse, government is my mother garbage. For a country that depends on trade being in the TPP was a no brainer. And that has nothing to do with his decision to retire which is totally to spend time with his family.

And the NZ has lost the best PM we have ever had and doubt his retirement will have any impact whatsoever on the rest of the world. 

Retired are you? Looking to live overseas if not yet retired? Enjoy your Kiwi superannuation compliments of  and thanks to JK. 

Key was all about rich people and bringing in rich people to NZ. He didn't give a rat's bottom that the people he was supposed to be looking after were living in cars because of his policies.

No tears from me to see him gone.

[Scott]

Off-topic post and replies removed.  

[nottocus]

He wasn't right wing enough for my liking.