John Key has announced that he will resign as prime minister of New Zealand, after eight years in the job.

Called it “the hardest decision I’ve ever made,” an emotional Key said “I don’t know what I’ll do next”.

Deputy PM Bill English is likely to take over until the National Party holds a caucus to choose a new PM.

Key, a popular leader, is stepping down at the request of his wife Bronagh, the New Zealand Herald reports, says the BBC.

He won a third term for the National Party at elections in September 2014. He said he would not be contesting the 2017 election.

Key made the announcement during his weekly press conference, citing family reasons for the surprise decision. He set a date of 12 December for the formal resignation.

He said his job required great sacrifices “from those who are dearest to me” and that his children had coped with “an extraordinary level of intrusion”.

“All I can say is that I gave it everything I had. I have left nothing in the tank.”

Key, who was formerly at Merrill Lynch as a foreign exchange dealer, ended nine years of Labour Party rule in 2008 when he ousted Helen Clark as Prime Minister.

BDST: 0833 HRS, DEC 05, 2016
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