Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has praised his New Zealand counterpart as a woman who led with "intellect and strength" after her shock resignation.
Jacinda Ardern will retire from politics on February 7 and was emotional as she made the announcement this afternoon.
The 42-year-old said she didn't have the energy to seek re-election as she told New Zealanders they would head to the polls on October 14.
"She has demonstrated that empathy and insight are powerful leadership qualities," he wrote on Twitter.
"Jacinda has been a fierce advocate for New Zealand, an inspiration to so many and a great friend to me. I wish (her) and her family well in the next chapter of their lives."
Albanese said he looked forward to working with the new leader.
Ardern said the Labour Party would elect a new leader by the weekend. Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson today ruled himself out.
Empathetic leader
Ardern's initial election as Prime Minister five and a-half years ago made a big splash on the global stage because of her gender and youth, coining the phrase "Jacinda-mania".
Her empathetic leadership style was cemented by her response to the mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch in 2019 that killed 51 people injured 40.
Ardern swiftly labelled the attacks “terrorism” and wore a hijab as she met with the Muslim community a day after the attack, telling them the whole country was “united in grief”.
She promised and delivered major gun law reform within a month.
Ardern won plaudits across the political spectrum for her handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw the country face some of the strictest measures globally but also resulted in one of the lowest death tolls.
But her popularity has waned over the past year as inflation has risen to nearly three-decade highs, the central bank has aggressively increased the cash rate and crime has risen.
New Zealand has become increasingly politically divided over issues such as a government overhaul of water infrastructure and the introduction of an agricultural emissions programme.
Political commentator Ben Thomas said Ardern's announcement was a huge surprise, as polls still ranked her as the country’s preferred Prime Minister even though support for her party had fallen from the stratospheric heights seen during the 2020 election.
Thomas said that there was not a clear successor.
- AAP and Reuters
