Race to replace New Zealand’s Key grows to 3

Mr Key says he’ll stay on as MP for Helensville once he steps down as Prime Minister until nearer next year’s election to avoid a by-election.

The party will need someone “who can make decisions, who can think on their feet, who can make hard calls and who can connect to New Zealanders whether they’re women, or men, or any ethnicity”, she said.

Max has been criticized in the past for his comments on social media. Although many believed Mr English could turn the party around, he was ultimately replaced by Don Brash, who was himself replaced by Mr Key.

John Key was elected to the nation’s parliament in 2002 and enjoyed a quick rise, becoming leader of his centre-right opposition party in 2006.

Both supporters and opponents of John Key have expressed their shock at his decision.

Key’s main rival, Labour leader Andrew Little, paid tribute on Twitter to Key’s decision.

“What I’m making quite clear is that I’m not going. for the position of leader of the New Zealand National Party”. Several other National Party lawmakers said they might enter the race. “I wish him and his family well”.

“He has gone, as he said, while he is on top”, Mr. Turnbull said.

Turnbull’s predecessor Tony Abbott complimented Key’s “fine innings”.

Key has had his share of scandals, including a “hair pulling” incident at an Auckland café that led to a public apology. The new leader will inherit a party with 50 percent support less than a year out from a general election and an economy that’s among the fastest growing in the developed world. The prime minister has a vacation home in Hawaii and played golf there with President Barack Obama.

Police Minister Judith Collins has always been seen as a potential leader, even when blotting her copy book with Mr Key, her dealings with political bloggers and being party to a political scandal tied to the company for which her husband worked.

Key says he has no immediate plans.

Key said: There will be many people coming up with all sorts of reasons. theres no conspiracy here. its just the right time. “And while the initial ardor might have cooled, most kiwis would have been surprised to find out that the marriage is over”.

In 2001, he returned to New Zealand with his wife Bronagh and two children, to fulfil a long-held ambition: to stand for Parliament.

But rather than run for a fourth term- he says he wants to leave on a high.

“He has nearly always been a victor in life”.

“We’re going to go into the toughest campaign ever that we have fought”, she said.

Moody’s Investors Services said it did not expect to change New Zealand’s Aaa credit rating as a result of Mr Key’s resignation, adding it expected the country’s “very strong institutions to lead to a smooth tradition and policy continuity”.

“Contrary to certain perceptions the Prime Minister and his Finance Minister are unable to muddy the waters anymore”.

It fell against the United States dollar after Key said he would step down next Monday and would use his caucus vote to support Finance Minister Bill English as his successor.

It is pertinent to mention here that he won a third term for the National Party at elections in September 2014.

“And that’s because Labour will come off eight years on life-support as of today”.