New Zealand’s Prime Minister to Resign Next Month

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced she will resign from her position ahead of this year's election, saying she no longer has "enough in the tank" to lead.

The shock announcement comes as polling indicates the party faces a difficult path to re-election on 14 October.

Ardern, 42, said she had taken time to consider her future over the summer break, hoping to find the heart and energy to go on in the role.

"But unfortunately I haven't, and I would be doing a disservice to New Zealand to continue," she told reporters on Thursday.

The prime minister will step down by 7 February. If no would-be successor garners the support of two-thirds of the party room, the vote will go to Labour's lay membership.

Ardern became the youngest female head of government in the world when she was elected prime minister in 2017, aged 37.

She steered New Zealand through the COVID-19 pandemic and its ensuing recession, the Christchurch mosque shootings, and the White Island volcanic eruption.

Ardern mentioned that the past five-and-a-half years had been the "most fulfilling" of her life, but leading the country during "crisis" had been difficult.

National Party leader Chris Luxon was among those who thanked Ardern "for her service to New Zealand".

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described her New Zealand counterpart as a leader of intellect, strength, and empathy.

"Jacinda has been a fierce advocate for New Zealand, an inspiration to so many and a great friend to me," he wrote.

Canada's leader Justin Trudeau said she had made an "immeasurable" difference to the world.

Ardern listed her government's achievements on climate change, social housing, and reducing child poverty as ones she was particularly proud of.

However, she said she hoped her legacy in New Zealand would be "as someone who always tried to be kind".

"I hope I leave New Zealanders with a belief that you can be kind, but strong, empathetic but decisive, optimistic but focused. And that you can be your own kind of leader - one who knows when it's time to go," she said.