It’s the podcast you’ve all been asking for: an emergency edition of Gone by Lunchtime as the team break down the sudden resignation of prime minister Jacinda Ardern.

What prompted the decision, what legacy will she leave, who is in the running to succeed her, and what does it all mean for election year? Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas race from their own caucus retreat into the studio for this emergency episode.

Listen below or wherever you get your podcasts.

Te Pāti Māori has called for a Tangata Whenua prime minister, saying Labour needs to use its Māori caucus as it decides on a new leader. “We will remember Jacinda Ardern for catapulting the voice of wahine and youth onto the world stage. Her fearlessness, courage and determination broke glass ceilings” said co-leader Rawiri Waititi in a statement.

“It is now time for Labour with the biggest Māori caucus ever to continue breaking glass ceilings by appointing a Tangata Whenua leader as the prime minister to lead the government into the next election.”

Waititi’s counterpart Debbie Ngarewa-Packer also thanked Ardern for her “outstanding contribution” and said she had been prime minister through the country’s darkest times. “She did so with absolute dignity while managing to keep our country’s economic status in line with the most successful OECD countries in the world.”

Politicians from across the political spectrum are paying tribute to outgoing prime minister Jacinda Ardern. Here’s a wrap:

National

Christopher Luxon will be holding a media stand-up at 3.30pm. In the meantime, he’s tweeted his thanks to Ardern for her service to New Zealand.

“She has given her all to this incredibly demanding job and I wish her and her family all the very best for the future. Thank you Jacinda.”

Act

David Seymour was quick off the mark with his tribute – wishing her the best but also throwing in a dig. “Jacinda is a well-meaning person, but her idealism collided hard with reality. Unfortunately this has left the country with big problems: the economy, the lawlessness, the Treaty.”

The Greens

The Green Party acknowledged Ardern’s service to New Zealand, singling out her leadership during unprecedented times.

“Jacinda Ardern has been a decisive and tireless leader of our country through unprecedented challenges, and we will be sorry to see her go,” said co-leader James Shaw.

His counterpart Marama Davidson added: “Jacinda Ardern’s compassion in times of crisis, her determination to make progress towards a fairer and safer Aotearoa, and her leadership of two multi-party governments is a cause for huge admiration.”

Davidson reiterated that the Greens will continue to work alongside Labour’s new leader as part of the cooperation agreement between the two parties.

Te Pāti Māori

Te Pāti Māori has called for a Tangata Whenua prime minister. “We will remember Jacinda Ardern for catapulting the voice of wahine and youth onto the world stage. Her fearlessness, courage and determination broke glass ceilings” said co-leader Rawiri Waititi.

“It is now time for Labour with the biggest Māori caucus ever to continue breaking glass ceilings by appointing a Tangata Whenua leader as the prime minister to lead the government into the next election.”

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer thanked Ardern for her “outstanding contribution” and said she had been prime minister through the country’s darkest times. “She did so with absolute dignity while managing to keep our country’s economic status in line with the most successful OECD countries in the world.”

More to come.

Announcing her resignation today, Jacinda Ardern did not disclose who she’d be backing for a replacement as Labour leader. “I am not leaving because I believe we can’t win the election, but because I believe we can and will,” she said, at a speech following the Labour caucus meeting this morning. The year and political term ahead “need[s] a fresh set of shoulders for that challenge.”

After her speech and answering questions, Ardern embraced her partner Clarke and other members of the Labour caucus as she left the room. Ardern will remain an MP until April.

The Act Party is usually first out the gate with reaction to anything – and that’s no different today, with David Seymour the first MP outside Labour to publicly react to Jacinda Ardern’s resignation.

In a statement, Seymour said he had known Ardern for over a decade and wished her and her family well. “While we rarely see eye to eye on political matters, we have remained collegial and have been able to team up for a good cause when the opportunity arose, most recently to raise over $100,000 for the Prostate Cancer foundation by auctioning off the signed ‘arrogant prick’ transcript,” he said.

Not resisting the opportunity for a jibe, Seymour added: “Jacinda is a well-meaning person, but her idealism collided hard with reality. Unfortunately this has left the country with big problems: the economy, the lawlessness, the Treaty.”

Attorney-general David Parker has sent #nzpol Twitter into a spin with a simple, two word tweet: “For Grant”.

If Parker was attempting to endorse his colleague Grant Robertson for prime minister, he will be very sad to learn Robertson has ruled out a tilt at the Labour leadership.

It’s possible, of course, it’s in reference to a different Grant. Hugh Grant, perhaps?

The prime minister gave an emotional address to media earlier this afternoon after the shocking revelation she would be stepping down as leader.

Missed it or want to pour over the tiny details? Click here to find Jacinda Ardern’s resignation speech in full.

Outgoing prime minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed the next general election will be held on Saturday, October 14. That’s ahead of many predictions which anticipated a November election.

The house will rise on August 31 and parliament will be dissolved on Friday, September 8.

“Most recent elections have been held in the latter months of the year, so this year’s timing keeps with that tradition and is similar to the 2020 election date,” said Ardern.

“While I won’t be contesting the election, I know the issues that impact New Zealanders most will remain the focus of the government through this year and into the election.”

Jacinda Ardern has announced her resignation as prime minister. Here is what you need to know.

• Jacinda Ardern will remain prime minister until a replacement has been confirmed.
• A vote within Labour’s caucus will take place this coming Sunday.
• If that vote proves unsuccessful, the vote will open up to wider Labour leadership.
• This process will wrap up by February 7 at the latest.
• Grant Robertson has ruled out seeking the leadership.
• The general election will take place on October 14.

Deputy prime minister Grant Robertson won’t be seeking to become New Zealand’s next prime minister.

In a statement, Robertson said he had pledged not to seek the top job again after his failed Labour leadership bid in 2014.

“My position has not changed. I have been a close up witness to the extraordinary work that Jacinda has done as leader and prime minister,” he said.

“The level of intensity and commitment required of prime minister is an order of magnitude greater than any other role. It is a job that you must unequivocally want to do in order to do it the justice it deserves.  I have every confidence that there are colleagues within the caucus who are both capable of doing the role, and have the desire to take it on. They will have my full support.”

He continued: “It is a privilege to be minister of finance. I recognise that as the country faces a challenging economic environment, experience, stability and continuity are critical. I remain absolutely committed to fulfilling that role, or any other one the new Leader will ask me to undertake.  I am also committed to running in the 2023 election to help secure a further term for a Labour led government.”

LIVE

Jacinda Ardern has made the shock announcement not to seek a third term as prime minister. She will step down in the coming weeks.

Speaking from Napier, an emotional Ardern revealed she did not have “enough in the tank” to do another term and would instead leave no later than February 7, ahead of the general election which has been set down for October 14.

“This has been the most fulfilling five and a half years of my life,” Ardern said. “I am leaving because with such a privileged job comes a big responsibility.”

A caucus vote to elect a new Labour Party leader will occur in three days time on Sunday, January 22. “I have given my absolute all to being prime minister but it has also taken a lot out of me. You cannot and should not do the job unless you have a full tank, plus a bit in reserve for those unplanned and unexpected challenges that inevitably come along.”

The governor general has been made aware of Ardern’s decision.

If no one receives two thirds support within caucus after this weekend’s vote, the leadership contest will go to the wider Labour membership.

Ardern will remain the MP for Mount Albert through until April. That means there will be no requirement for a byelection.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved over the last five years in spite of the many challenges thrown at us. We’ve turned around child poverty statistics and made the most significant increases in welfare support and public housing stock seen in many decades.”

Ardern said cabinet met at 7.30am this morning, caucus soon after, and all were made aware this morning. “I did not want to burden them with this decision, I knew once I had made it that my mind was not for changing.”

On her decision to quit, Ardern said it was not because the job was too hard. “Had that been the case I probably would have departed two months into the job,” she said. “I am leaving because with such a privileged role, comes responsibility. The responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead, and also, when you are not.”

There’s been a 32-year high jump in the price of food, according to new figures out from Stats NZ.

Food prices were up by 11.3% in December 2022 than in the year prior, with the costs up across the board in all food groups. That’s the biggest annual increase since April 1990, when food prices increased by 11.4%.

Grocery food was the largest contributor to this movement, with prices up 11%, while fruit and vegetables alone were up by 23%.

Meat, poultry, and fish prices increased by 11%, non-alcoholic beverage prices were up by 7.3%, and restaurant and ready to eat meals up 7.8%.

“Increasing prices for cheddar cheese, barn or cage-raised eggs, and potato chips were the largest drivers within grocery food,” said Stats NZ consumer prices manager James Mitchell.

Within the fruit and vege area, kiwifruit, potatoes and tomatoes were the biggest cost drivers.

National’s leader Christopher Luxon has announced a “limited reshuffle” of his caucus, fast promoting his newest MP Tama Potaka.

Potaka won last year’s Hamilton West byelection and today picks up the roles of Māori development and associate housing, with a focus on social housing.

Other promotions include another role for Chris Bishop – who is also managing National’s election campaign – as he picks up urban development and RMA reform, while Michael Woodhouse becomes shadow leader of the house.

Taking a look at the National caucus list, and former leader Judith Collins has shifted up eight spots to number 10, only a year-and-a-bit after her dramatic fall from the party leadership. Todd Muller, another former leader, is in position 12.

Potaka, despite his portfolio gains, remains unranked.

There is no mention in Luxon’s press statement of Barbara Kuriger. The Taranaki-King Country MP last year resigned from her portfolios over a conflict of interest that Luxon described as “a serious lapse of judgement”. Despite this, Kuriger has confirmed she will contest the 2023 election. Kuriger has been demoted down off ranked caucus list after previously being placed in the top 10.

“My team will spend 2023 demonstrating how National will deliver the change New Zealand needs to realise its great potential,” said Luxon.

“National will embrace pragmatic solutions for New Zealand’s toughest problems, like the rising cost of living, ram raids, and falling educational achievement.”

Other changes announced today include:

• Louise Upston takes on family violence prevention;
• Judith Collins takes on the new roles of foreign direct investment and digitising government;
• Todd Muller is confirmed as the agriculture spokesperson and also takes on the climate change portfolio;
• Todd McClay picks up the new hunting and fishing portfolio; and
• Penny Simmonds takes on the new portfolio of workforce planning.

Here’s one for all you political tragics: the timetable for today’s duelling political party retreats in Napier.

Both National and Labour have coincidentally planned their annual retreats for the same date and the same city, meaning the election year contest really begins today. Both party leaders have planned announcements.

• 11am: National Party leader Christopher Luxon gets the early attention and will speak first. It’s anticipated we may get the details of a minor caucus reshuffle at this time, to fill gaps and likely allocate a role for Hamilton West MP Tama Potaka.
• 12pm: Luxon will follow up this announcement with a speech.
• 1pm: Jacinda Ardern will speak at 1pm. We might get the election date – though this could also come after next week’s first cabinet meeting. Or, we might get a policy tidbit to get us into the election spirit. Following this announcement, Ardern will speak to media.

It’s been a long time coming, but RNZ’s flagship news programme Morning Report finally has a new co-host: Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Newshub Late host will join the show in April alongside current presenter Corin Dann. She replaces Susie Ferguson, who gave up early mornings for a new correspondent gig back in October.

Meanwhile, First Up host Nathan Rarere has been given additional airtime – he’ll be Morning Report’s sports correspondent in addition to hosting his early morning 5-6am show.

RNZ’s head of news Richard Sutherland said he was thrilled by the appointments. “Ingrid and Corin will make a formidable and engaging lead presenting team, and we’re fortunate to have a regular roster of cover hosts that include some of New Zealand’s most respected journalists and presenters. It’s an extraordinarily strong team for an agenda-leading news programme.”

The public broadcaster, which is still due to be merged with TVNZ later this year (though this seems unlikely to ever go ahead), has also signalled a stronger investment in its Auckland audience. “Having Ingrid and Nathan broadcasting out of the Auckland studio is a purposeful move for Morning Report, recognising RNZ’s commitment to serve Aotearoa’s largest and most diverse region,” said Sutherland.

The Herald is reporting an Auckland council source saying that “it would be a cold day in hell before the mayor agreed for a cent of ratepayers’ funding to go into the project”. The project in question is light rail. A mayoral spokesperson said “those are not the words the mayor would use to express Auckland council’s long-standing position that light rail is a central government project, being driven and funded by central government”.

Council chief of strategy Megan Tyler said at this stage, the council and Auckland Transport have not committed any funding to light rail, but government officials have initiated preliminary discussions about possible funding tools, which could include council contributions.

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It’s seemingly unprecedented: both the biggest parties have decided to hold their summer caucus retreats in the same city.

Labour and National MPs have descended on Napier today, in a moment dubbed by Today FM’s Tova O’Brien as a “calamitous caucus clash”.

The retreats are the first events on the political calendar for 2023 – election year – with both parties promising announcements.

As detailed in The Bulletin, that could involve something like the election date being dropped by Jacinda Ardern (though that is likely to come after Wednesday’s first cabinet meeting) or a reshuffle, with both parties expecting to change up some portfolio allocations.

Speaking to O’Brien, cabinet minister Megan Woods wouldn’t speculate on today’s announcement and said she was not yet aware of whether an election date had been set. Meanwhile, National Party leader deputy Nicola Willis later confirmed that a minor reshuffle for her party was on the cards – but that leader Christopher Luxon was “broadly happy” with the performance of MPs. “We will be today focusing on what this election needs to be about,” she added.

We’re expecting to hear from the prime minister at 1pm today, and Luxon at some stage as well, and we’ll keep you updated on what comes out of those appearances.