Andrew Little warns Key's replacement Labour 'ready to go'

Monday 5th December 2016

By Edwin Mitson & Sophie Boot

Dec. 5 (BusinessDesk) - Opposition leader Andrew Little has praised John Key's contribution to the government of New Zealand, but warned his successor that Labour is "ready to go" whoever is appointed.

Key stepped down as prime minister in a surprise announcement this lunchtime, citing family reasons. He'll be replaced at a caucus meeting next Monday, with Finance Minister Bill English the favourite to get the role.

Little acknowledged Key's contribution to government and the impact of the role on the prime minister's family. "I know it's a tough gig and it's tough on families too," he told media at a hastily called briefing at Parliament.

He responded to Key's success with National, which saw the former financial trader win three consecutive elections starting in 2008, when he ended Helen Clark's winning run, "He has certainly had a lot of support, that's acknowledged." Little is the fifth Labour leader Key faced as National leader, having seen off Clark, Phil Goff, David Shearer and David Cunliffe.

Labour won the Mt Roskill by-election at the weekend by a better margin than many pundits had expected, although Key had played down the result. Little said his party was ready for the coming general election, a vote that those in and around the Beehive had anticipated would take place on Sep 23 next year.

"We have been preparing for 2017 for some time. The economic numbers are looking good, but there are people who are being left out, being left behind," Little said. "There are still major challenges New Zealand still has to grapple with, rising homelessness, rising crime rate and education.”

(BusinessDesk)

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