Jacinda Ardern to resign as New Zealand prime minister

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will not seek re-election and plans to resign in early February, she said in a televised statement on Thursday.

A general election will be held on October 14, she said.

“This summer, I’m hoping to find a way to prepare for not just another year, but another term – because that’s what we need this year,” an emotional Ardern said in her statement. “I can’t do that yet.”

Ardern’s term will end no later than February 7.

Ardern said she believed the New Zealand Labor Party would win the upcoming election and added that an election to elect the next Labor leader would be held on Sunday.

New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson, who is also finance minister, said in a statement that he would not seek to be the next Labor leader.