NZ opposition leader Todd Muller resigns weeks before general election

National Party leader Todd Muller has resigned suddenly, just 10 weeks before the country’s general election.

National Party Leader Todd Muller has resigned suddenly. Picture: Getty Images.

New Zealand’s opposition leader has resigned suddenly, throwing the party into disarray just 10 weeks out from a general election.

Todd Muller, the leader of the National Party, stood down early on Tuesday morning, after only two months in the job.

Mr Muller, who took over as National leader from Simon Bridges in May, said in a statement:

“It has become clear to me that I am not the best person to be leader of the Opposition and leader of the New Zealand National Party at this critical time for New Zealand.

“The role has taken a heavy toll on me personally, and on my family, and this has become untenable from a health perspective.”

His resignation comes amid controversy over the leaking by National Party MP Hamish Walker and former party president Michelle Boag of the private details of COVID-19 patients.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern passed on her best wishes.

“No matter what side of parliament you’re sitting, politics is a difficult place,” Ms Ardern said in a statement.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters also offered his sympathy.

“One’s sympathy goes out to Todd Muller and his family. Todd is a good man, unlike most of his colleagues he does have commercial experience, and he will bounce back,” Mr Peters said.

“Leading a divided and incompetent caucus would have tested even the best leader … Todd never had a chance given the fault lines of ambition, personality, and ideology that run deep through the National Party caucus.”

Mr Muller took the leadership of the National Party in a coup against Mr Bridges on May 22 after arguing the party could not win an election under his leadership.

It is essential that National wins this election,” Mr Muller wrote in the email at the time.

“I share the view of the majority of my colleagues that this is not possible under the current leadership.”

With 67 days until the election, the “instability” of the National Party has placed it “out of the running,” Mr Peters said on Tuesday.

Mr Muller told an emergency caucus meeting of his decision via teleconference on Tuesday morning. The caucus will meet Tuesday evening to decide on a new leader.