Jacinda Ardern says Labour is about to "run the campaign of our lives" as the new leader of the Labour Party.

Ardern was voted in as leader after Andrew Little's sudden resignation on Tuesday morning. Kelvin Davis was the party's new deputy leader.

She said she was looking forward to the challenge of the election campaign, talking to reporters shortly after midday.

MONIQUE FORD/STUFF Jacinda Ardern was voted in as the new leader of the Labour Party, with Kelvin Davis her deputy.

Ardern said she and the party would take 72 hours to take stock of where Labour was at.

READ MORE:

* Live: Follow Andrew Little's do-or-die Labour caucus meeting

* Opinion: Can the Ardern factor save Labour?

* What are Labour's potential new leaders Jacinda Ardern and Kelvin Davis all about

* Opinion: Labour pins its hopes on a new top team

* Stuff's poll of polls

"I will bring a different stamp to this campaign," Ardern said, and highlighted "relentless positivity" and a clear vision for New Zealand.

NZN VIDEO After quitting as party leader, Andrew Little says he has absolute confidence in Jacinda Ardern.

She said there was no Plan B - they were focussed on the election.

Ardern laughed, saying that she had just accepted the "worst job in politics" at very short notice.

She paid tribute to Little, saying he was first and foremost loyal to Labour.

Chris Skelton/Stuff Green Party Co-leader James Shaw talks about Andrew Little's resignation from the Labour leadership.

She thanked him for his "incredible" work over the last few years.

DAVIS' FLIGHT DASH

Labour's new deputy leader had the quickest shower of his life this morning when he got a call at 4.30am saying he needed to be on a flight in Kerikeri in two hours' time.

MONIQUE FORD/STUFF Andrew Little said he would stay on at least until the election and would have to talk to the party about what slot he would have on the list.

Davis had planned to be up north on Tuesday morning but got told he needed to be in Wellington.

He was unsure about what would happen with the fact he's not on Labour's party list in the election. All of the Labour MPs in Maori seats took themselves off the list earlier this year.

But it could be awkward if Mana Party leader Hone Harawira won the Te Tai Tokerau seat off Davis and he didn't have the list as a back-up.

A Labour leadership ticket of Jacinda Ardern and hard-hitting corrections spokesman Kelvin Davis had been suggested as a replacement.

LITTLE QUIT THANKS TO LACK OF SUPPORT

Little resigned at a caucus meeting of Labour MPs in Wellington on Tuesday morning.

The move followed revelations Little had consulted his colleagues on whether to step aside over new polling showing the party sinking to a record low result.

Little said as leader you had to take responsibility and he did. The polls were showing a declining trend.

"I do take responsibility and believe that Labour must have an opportunity to perform better under new leadership through to the election."

Sources said it had become clear on Tuesday morning that Little did not have the majority support.

After announcing his resignation Little said Ardern had his full backing, ahead of the vote which confirmed her as the new leader.

Little said the campaign ahead would be tough - "it will be a big fight" - and he was determined to be in it.

He said he would stay on at least until the election and would have to talk to the party about what slot he would have on the list.

Earlier on Tuesday Little pulled out of all planned media engagements ahead of the meeting, in which it was reported he would face a no-confidence vote.

There had been a report MP Kris Faafoi was running the numbers for a new leadership team of Ardern and Davis, and Labour's former party president Mike Williams had earlier told media he expected Little would stand down on Tuesday.

GREENS: PARTY AGREEMENT ENDURES

Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei paid tribute to Little, while congratulating Ardern.

"Our relationship will continue to be sound now that Jacinda Ardern has assumed leadership of the Labour Party, and our congratulations goes out to her and new deputy leader, Kelvin Davis.

"Our goal remains the same – to change the government this September, and we're looking forward to working together to achieve this.

"Andrew Little has spent the last two and a half years standing up for all New Zealanders, working to bridge the gap between rich and poor, and to call out the National Government's many failures. We thank him for that.

"What's important now is that we show New Zealanders we have answers to the problems we face as a nation; homelessness, families struggling to get by, climate change, and dirty rivers and lakes. These are problems National has failed to address or solve – it's time to change the government."

MAORI PARTY: WORKING TOGETHER A POSSIBILITY

The Maori Party has offered an olive branch to Labour's new leader Jacinda Ardern, saying their members want them to work with Labour.

The party currently supports the National-led government, despite formating after breaking away from Labour.

"Maori people throughout the country are telling me they want our party to work with Labour if it's in a position to form a government after September 23," party president Tuku Morgan said in a press release.

New Labour deputy Kelvin Davis said he was open to working with the Maori Party if they "stepped their game up" and made it back into Parliament in the first place.

LABOUR 'IN DISARRAY'

National leader Prime Minister Bill English was on his way into caucus just as Little announced he was stepping down.

"We respect any leader of the Opposition, they'll replace him with someone else," he said.

"They're in disarray, the basic problem isn't really the leadership, it's they just don't have a positive view of what New Zealand can achieve".

English said National had a lot of hard work to do, "because they'll select a new leader."

He cautioned that his party would not become complacent as on the latest poll numbers they still could not form a government with its current support parties.

Asked for his overall opinion of Little as an opponent, English said: "He actually brought the Labour Party together to some extent, or it looked like he had, I'm not so sure now.

"Whoever is leader of the Labour Party we respect them as the leader of the Opposition."

He said Ardern has some "real challenges" with the "lack of momentum and ideas from the Labour Party".

When asked if he thought Ardern would be a "more formidable opponent" than Little, he said he thought they were "much of a muchness".

POLL SLIDE

The 1 News-Colmar Brunton poll showing Labour on 24 per cent also showed the Green Party soaring to their highest result ever in poll series, at 15 per cent.

NZ First was steady at 11 per cent and Gareth Morgan's Opportunities Party was on 2 per cent.

The poll put National on 47 per cent, holding steady on its 2014 result though the poor polling of its potential coalition allies meant it would probably be reliant on NZ First to form a government.

Labour had been hit by a series of hammer blows with polls showing its popularity taking a dive - even from its own pollster.

A UMR Research poll provided to Labour, the pollster's corporate clients and some other parties last week, and leaked to Stuff on Monday, showed Labour on 23 per cent - down six points from a similar poll in June.

That was worse even than Sunday's 1 News-Colmar Brunton poll.

But there was no better news for Labour in a Newshub-Reid Research poll on Monday that also had Labour diving to 24 per cent.</s>Andrew Little, the leader of New Zealand’s opposition Labour party, has stepped down less than two months before the country’s general election.

The resignation comes after six weeks of declining popularity and three devastating weekend polls that placed support for Labour at just 23 to 24% – the party’s worst results since 1995.

Over the weekend Little asked his party if they would like him to step down, but they told him to stay and said they continued to support him as leader.

However, on Tuesday Little cancelled all his morning media interviews and called a caucus meeting. Just after 10am he said it was in the best interests of the party that he resign.

“We’ve not been able to get our message out about the things that actually matter.” he said. 



“As leader, I must take responsibility for these results. I do take responsibility and believe that Labour must have an opportunity to perform better under new leadership through to the election.”

“I am determined to make sure that Labour fights this campaign with the greatest of resolve, because far too much is at stake for far too many New Zealanders.”

Little said he was not pushed or pressured to depart as leader.

Little has endorsed his deputy leader Jacinda Ardern to take over the Labour leadership. At 37 she is well-liked by the public but has been criticised for being youthful and untested.

In the past Ardern has said she in not interested in being prime minister because of the pressure it puts on home and family life.

Former Labour party president Mike Williams told Radio New Zealand he expected Ardern to take over the leadership role with Kelvin Davis as her deputy. Another option was finance spokesman Grant Robertson for leader.

The new leader will be announced later on Tuesday.

Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni told Radio NZ there was “a little bit of sadness” at Little’s departure.

“Not upset with the decision. Politics is hard. Andrew has done a great job for us and we admire the fact that he’s made this decision to step aside. There’s a little bit of sadness, but you’ve got to get on with the job. And that’s winning the election.”</s>The head of New Zealand’s Labour Party, Andrew Little, said on Tuesday he was stepping down after “disturbing” poll results, strengthening the chances of the governing National Party less than two months before the country’s national election. A recent opinion poll showed Labour support slumping to its lowest level in more than 20 years, according to New Zealand’s 1 News broadcast, which commissioned the survey.

“I’ve just confirmed to the Labour Party caucus that I will step down as leader to the Labour party,” Little told reporters. “There’s no question the poll results that came out last week (…) were disturbing and very, very disappointing,” he said.

When asked if he would vote for deputy leader Jacinda Ardern if she put her hand up for the job, Little said: “Yes”.

In the poll taken between July 22 and 27, Labour fell 3 points to 24 percent, while the National Party remained steady on 47 percent. New Zealand is due to hold a general election on Sept. 23.

For all the latest World News, download Indian Express App</s>Andrew Little has announced he will step down as leader of the Labour Party, and says he will be backing Jacinda Ardern for the leadership role.

In a media statement this morning, Little said, "I’m proud to have been leader of the Labour Party, and have given this position my absolute and unwavering dedication, just as I have done so for more than 25 years in the Labour movement.

While obviously this is a sad decision, I have been privileged to have led a united, talented team of Labour MPs, proud to have progressed the values and issues that New Zealanders care about and proud to stand with working New Zealanders.

I remain committed to the Labour cause of putting people first, lifting the rights of working New Zealanders and strengthening Kiwi families.

The Labour team of MPs and staff have worked incredibly hard during my leadership, however recent poll results have been disappointing.

As leader, I must take responsibility for these results. I do take responsibility and believe that Labour must have an opportunity to perform better under new leadership through to the election.

I am determined to make sure that Labour fights this campaign with the greatest of resolve, because far too much is at stake for far too many New Zealanders.

New Zealand needs a Labour-led Government, and in order to achieve this Labour must fight without questions over its leadership.

The campaign is on a good footing, Labour’s caucus is united and the party is healthy.

My colleagues in the Labour Party caucus will elect a new leadership team this morning. I wish my successor all the very best in their new role, and offer my wholehearted support to them."

Te Kāea political reporter Heta Gardiner will have more on this tonight on Te Kāea.</s>Just seven weeks out from a general election New Zealand's opposition Labour party has changed leaders.

Andrew Little resigned as leader of the Labour party yesterday — following a string of poor results in the polls and support for his party plummeting to just 23 per cent.

He's been replaced by 37-year-old Jacinda Ardern — she's promised to put the party's internal machinations to one side, and focus on winning the next month's election.</s>WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - New Zealand opposition leader Andrew Little quit Tuesday and was replaced by his 37-year-old deputy seven weeks before the general election, as the Labour Party tried to find a way to overcome recent dismal polling.

Supporters hope Jacinda Ardern will bring more charisma to the role and forge a stronger connection with younger voters.

But she faces a tough battle to unseat Prime Minister Bill English, whose conservative National Party has won the previous three elections and held power for nine years.

"Everyone knows that I have just accepted, with short notice, the worst job in politics," Ardern said. "There is no doubt that being in opposition is hard. That's why I'm using the next eight weeks to get our team out of it."

As recently as a few days ago, few people predicted Little would quit despite the party's struggle to gain traction with voters. Indeed, the party's campaign hoardings and leaflets featuring Little had already been printed.

But a recent survey of voters showed the Labour Party was polling just 24 percent. Little then told TV 1 News that he'd talked to colleagues about the possibility of stepping down, an admission that appeared to erode his leadership further.

He said he'd decided to step down because the polling results were building a narrative that was getting in the way of the party's important messages.

"I take responsibility for that and it is my judgment that the party and the people who we are campaigning for will be better served by a new leader who can bring a fresh face and a fresh voice to this vital campaign," he said.

Ardern said the situation was "not what anyone expected or wanted" but that her team was about to "run the campaign of our lives."

She said she would take the next three days to review the campaign and make any new policy announcements. She said her vision for New Zealand was a place where everyone had a roof over their heads, meaningful work and where education was free.

Ardern has a background in policy development and is the former president of the International Union of Socialist Youth. She was first elected to Parliament in 2008.

The Labour Party also chose as its new deputy Kelvin Davis, a former school principal and an indigenous Maori who is the party's spokesman for Maori Development.

Although Little quit as Labour leader, he remains a member of the Parliament. Ardern said she would consider him for a senior role if she wins the election.

Under New Zealand's proportional voting system, parties typically must form alliances to govern. Labour's most likely path to power is by forming alliances with the liberal Green Party and the New Zealand First party, which wants to limit immigration.

The National Party is seeking to retain its alliances with several small parties. But it may also vie for the support of New Zealand First, depending on the final vote tallies. New Zealand First has not indicated which of the two main parties it will back.</s>WELLINGTON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - The head of New Zealand's Labour Party Andrew Little said on Tuesday he was stepping down less than two months before the country's general election.

"I've just confirmed to the Labour Party caucus that I will step down as leader to the Labour party," Andrew Little told reporters.

"There's no question the poll results that came out last week ... were disturbing and very, very disappointing."

New Zealand is due to hold a general election on Sept. 23. (Reporting by Ana Nicolaci da Costa and Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Chris Reese)</s>Another day and more electoral disaster for Andrew Little and the Labour party.

This time it is the Newshub poll.

Things are looking grim for both Labour and National ahead of the election, with the latest Newshub-Reid Research poll showing nasty drops. National’s on 45.2 percent, down 2.2 percent. It’s now in the ‘danger zone’, unable to put a Government together on that. Meanwhile Labour’s dropped 2.3 percent to 24.1 percent – the lowest ever on this poll in nine years. Those votes have to go somewhere, and they’ve gone to New Zealand First and Winston Peters. It’s up 3.6 percent to 13 percent – its highest ever on this poll. The Greens are also up, by 0.5 percent, bringing them to 13 percent too. It’s a strong result and the first time New Zealand First and Greens have been equal. Turning to the minor parties, Gareth Morgan’s Opportunities Party are up 1.2 percent to 2 percent, while the Maori Party is on 1.2 percent.

National has a problem at 45.2% their current support partners leave them well short. But not as short as Labour are right now.

Winston peters is in the box seat and on a surge. He can be kingmaker for both sides of the electoral coin. But a partnerhsip with National alone makes a commanding majority where things like RMA reform could be easily completed. It would certainly break the deadlock with current legislation.

Can Labour get out of this predicament? Unlikely. Like our own INCITE: Politics polling Andrew Little has dreadful negatives, that are sinking fast:

Labour are going to have to do something…fast. My Labour sources have been talking all day about what they call “a reluctant coup”. Word is that Jacinda Ardern, a woman who has admitted that being deputy Leader of labour is stressful is said to be reluctant.

There are now rumours swirling that if Jacinda doesn’t do it then David Parker, number two and out of parliament on these figures may well do it.

I’m not sure a leadership change is going to help them. Labour is a hundred years old, and it looks like the dear old nana of a party has gone into total organ failure as a result of the hip replacement, the broken knee and the bout of pneumonia it has suffered in its declining years. It’s sad, but no one or no party lives forever.</s>The leader of New Zealand's main opposition Labour Party quit Tuesday just weeks before a general election, citing "disappointing" opinion polls.

Outgoing Andrew Little said the centre-left party needed a fresh team at the top for the September 23 election after its support plunged to 20-year-lows of between 23 and 24 percent.

"Recent poll results have been disappointing. As leader, I must take responsibility for these results," he said.

"I do take responsibility and believe that Labour must have an opportunity to perform better under new leadership through to the election."

Little stepped down immediately, with the Labour caucus set to elect a replacement later Tuesday. He backed his deputy Jacinda Ardern for the role.

The centre-right National Party-led coalition under Prime Minister Bill English is seeking a fourth term in the election and comfortably leads in the polls.</s>New Zealand's opposition leader Andrew Little is stepping down less than two months before the general election after two miserable poll results.

New Zealand opposition leader Andrew Little has quit just two months before the country goes to the polls.

Little fell on his sword on Tuesday, saying the narrative around this week's "very, very disappointing" poll results was distracting from the Labour Party's messages.

A cloud has persisted over his leadership since two disastrous poll results from One News Colmar Brunton and Newshub Reid Research that recorded support for the party at just 24 per cent.

A third, by Labour's own pollsters, UMR, put support at just 23 per cent, low enough to even leave Little's position as a list MP in doubt.

Little said as leader, he had to take responsibility for the poll results and the narrative that was preventing Labour getting their message across.

No one has yet to publicly declare their candidacy for leadership, although deputy Jacinda Ardern is expected to throw her hat in the ring, possibly with Maori MP Kelvin Davis as her deputy.

Little said she would have his full support.

Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni appeared upset as she stood alongside Little during his announcement.

"Politics is hard. Of course Andrew's done a great job for us and we admire the fact that he's made this decision to step aside," she said.

"You feel of two minds - there's a little bit of sadness but we've got to get on with the job and that's winning the election."

Little said his colleagues were as deeply disappointed as he was with the recent results and had been warm in their support of him and his decision.
Jacinda Ardern is elected the new leader of the Labour Party, after Andrew Little resigns on the back of poor opinion poll performance ahead of the 23 September election.