Leading New Zealand Against COVID-19 to Volcanic Eruption, PM Ardern: The Most Satisfying Five and a Half Years of My Life

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern. (Wikimedia Commons/Nevada Halbert)

JAKARTA - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced she will be stepping down from her post by early February, not seeking re-election in the October 14 election because she wants to spend more time with her family.

"I'm leaving, because with such a privileged role comes responsibility. Responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead and also when you are not," said PM Ardern, cited from The Guardian, January 19.

Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern, her full name, became the world's youngest female head of government when she was elected prime minister in 2017 at the age of 37.

She successfully led New Zealand through the COVID-19 pandemic, to a number of major disasters, including the terror attack on two mosques in Christchurch, to the volcanic eruption of the White Island Volcano.

"These have been the most fulfilling five-and-a-half years of my life. But it also has its challenges – between agendas focused on housing, child poverty and climate change, we face… domestic terror events, major natural disasters, global pandemics and economic crises, said Ardern.

Furthermore, Ardern said she has no plans for the future, other than spending more time with her family.

Asked how she would like New Zealanders to remember her leadership, Ardern said "as someone who always tried to be nice."

"I hope I leave New Zealanders with the belief that you can be kind but strong, empathetic but firm, optimistic but focused. And that you can be your own leader, knowing when it's time to leave."

It is known, this announcement comes as New Zealand enters a political year with a vote to be held on 14 October.

Opinion polls over the past few months have put Ardern's Labor party slightly behind the national opposition.

Ardern said her drop in the polls was not the reason for her decision to step down.

"I'm not resigning because I believe we can't win the election, but because I believe we can and will do it, and we need a new shoulder to the challenge," she said.

It is not yet clear who will replace her. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Grant Robertson, considered the strongest candidate to replace Ardern, said he was not eyeing the vacated position.

Meanwhile, the Labor Caucus has seven days to find a new leader and prime minister who has the support of two-thirds of the caucus.

The caucus vote for the new leader will take place within three days, on January 22. If neither meets the support threshold in the caucus, the leadership contest will go to members of the broader Labor Party.