The politicians that have quit this year and why they are leaving

Former National Leader Todd Muller became the third MP this year to quit politics when he announced on Friday he would step down at the next election.

Only hours later, Labour MP for Whangārei Dr Emily Henderson announced she would do the same.

There is often a spate of resignations in an election year, as MPs take the chance to step away from politics without causing too much disruption.

Here are all the politicians who have quit this year – and late last year – and their reasons for stepping away from the political limelight.

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Jacinda Ardern

Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation in January after five years as prime minister.

She said it was time for her to step down as she didn’t have enough in the tank for another four years.

Ardern will remain the electorate MP for Mount Albert until April, in order to avoid a by-election. She says she has no plan as to what her next steps after leaving parliament will be.

“All I know is that whatever I do, I will try and find ways to keep working for New Zealand and that I am looking forward to spending time with my family again – arguably, they are the ones that have sacrificed the most out of all of us.”

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins hinted this week there was “potential” for Ardern to remain involved in the Christchurch Call, “and in due course we’ll explore what that might look like”.

Tāmati Coffey

Labour list MP Tāmati Coffey announced he wouldn’t stand for re-election on March 10.

Coffey first entered Parliament in 2017, winning the seat of Waiariki, but lost it in 2020, despite a surge by Labour.

He said he was retiring to spend more time with his newborn baby.

“After the birth of our second child, I’ve reprioritised where I want to put my energy and that’s into our two kids, Tūtānekai and Taitimu,” Coffey said.

Coffey and his husband, Tim Smith, welcomed their second child in January.

Todd Muller

Former National Party leader Todd Muller announced he would step down at the next election on March 17, ending a political career that began in 2014.

“I’d just realised you don’t have the energy for it, you don’t have the gas in the tank, if you like,” he told Stuff.

Being an MP was a childhood ambition and Muller did not hide his ambition to be more than that. He led a successful coup to claim the National Party leadership from Simon Bridges in 2020, ahead of that year’s election, with Nikki Kaye as his deputy.

But his leadership lasted just 53 days as he quit after what he called a “breakdown”.

Muller said he would miss the “energy” and people at Parliament when he left in October. He did not know what he would do next.

Emily Henderson

The same day Muller made his announcement, Dr Emily Henderson said she would also be retiring from politics at the upcoming election after three years representing Whangārei.

Henderson was the first woman electorate MP to represent Whangārei and the first Labour MP for Whangārei in over 45 years.

She was leaving Parliament to return to her work in court reform and contribute to change for the most vulnerable.

“I entered Parliament with a long history of law reform in the Family and criminal courts, including helping to set up the Sexual Violence Courts and it is to this work I intend to return.”

Late 2022 exodus

In December last year several MPs announced they would step down following the 2023 election.

Cabinet ministers Poto Williams, David Clark and Aupito William Sio announced they would retire from politics at the election.

As did MPs Jamie Strange, Marja Lubeck and Paul Eagle.

Green Party MPs Eugenie Sage and Jan Logie also signalled their intentions to retire at the next election.