New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern quits after 5 years

Jacinda Ardern, 42, shook the country by announcing that she is quitting as New Zealand Prime Minister ahead of this year's election saying she no longer has "enough in the tank" to lead

Ms Ardern, who came to office in 2017 and in five momentous years became New Zealand’s most important post-war Prime Minister, said she had taken time to consider her future over the summer break hoping to find the heart and energy to go on in the role She said she hasn’t and therefore felt she would be doing a disservice to New Zealand to continue

Ardern became the youngest female head of government in the world when she was elected Prime Minister in 2017, aged 37

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Ms Ardern as a leader of intellect, strength and empathy