Jacinda Ardern says she has “no regrets” about her plans to step down as New Zealand’s leader, after a decision that shocked both supporters and critics.
A day after revealing she was “no longer in the tank”, Ms Ardern said she was feeling a “range of emotions” from sadness to “a sense of relief”.
Polls suggest his party has a difficult path to re-election in October.
The prime minister said she would not openly support any potential candidate to replace her.
Speaking outside an airport in Napier on Friday – where the Labor Party caucus had gathered for a retreat – Ms Ardern said she had “slept well for the first time in a long time”.
In response to questions from reporters, he dismissed suggestions from some observers that experiences of abuse had played a role in his decision.
Ms Ardern said she had a “message for women in leadership and girls considering leadership in the future” that “you can have a family and be in those roles”, adding that “You can lead in your own way”.
On Thursday, she said she was looking forward to spending more time with her family and visiting when her daughter starts school later this year.
She will be out of office by February 7 and Labor MPs will vote for the leadership on Sunday. If a candidate does not receive the support of two-thirds of the party, the vote will go to the wider Labor membership.
But Ms Ardern said she hoped a successor would be chosen on Sunday.
Chris Hopkins, who currently holds the education and police portfolios, appears to be the most likely candidate. Mr Hopkins, 44, led the government’s response to the pandemic after being appointed Covid-19 minister in November 2020.
He later admitted that the strict restrictions should have been lifted sooner.
Other possible candidates include Justice Minister Kerry Allen, 39; If she succeeds, she will become the country’s first Māori prime minister, as well as its first openly gay leader.
Michael Wood, 42, the Minister for Transport and Workplace Safety, is also on the list of possible successors.
There has been mixed reaction in New Zealand to Ms Ardern’s decision. Liliana Lozano, a local, said she will miss the leader’s “kindness and his ability to relate to others.”
“Watching him on TV made me feel safe during the [Covid] lockdown,” she told JEE News.
But Tina Watson, who is originally from Britain and now lives in South Africa, accused Ms Ardern of separating her from her family because the borders had been closed for more than two years.
“His Covid-19 restrictions were very strict,” Ms Watson said. “I have three children [in New Zealand], six grandchildren – two of whom I’ve never met. He cut me off from them. I’m glad he resigned.”
Jacinda Ardern’s personal popularity has suffered recently, with the latest polls showing it is at its lowest since she came to power in 2017.
New Zealand is grappling with problems including a deteriorating economy, a life crisis and concerns about crime rates.
