"I have had a wonderful time in this place over the last nearly ten years including nine years as a Minister, and have been privileged to be able to make a real contribution to the development of our country," Mr Joyce said in a statement released this afternoon. Mr Joyce said he was offered a place on the Opposition frontbench with a 'choice of portfolio' by Mr Bridges, but decided it was 'time for [Mr Bridges] to get a new team around him to take National forward'. Steven Joyce has revealed he was offered his choice of shadow portfolios, except finance, by new National leader Simon Bridges, but says those options didn't pose a satisfactory challenge. "He played a major role in rebuilding the National Party, leading the past five elections and helping turn National into New Zealand's largest and most popular political party," he said. "Steven is a huge loss to Parliament and to the National Party and I want to thank him for his immense contribution to New Zealand, and his wife Suzanne and their children for sharing them with us. Thank you for your immense contribution to our country and to the @NZNationalParty - you are a huge loss but we wish you all the best.
National Party politician and former Minister of Finance Steven Joyce resigns from parliament.