BREAKING NEWS: In shock announcement, Todd Muller resigns as leader of Opposition, National Party
In a statement today, he says the decision is "effective immediately". "It has become clear to me that I am not the best person to be leader of the Opposition and leader of the New Zealand National Party at this critical time for New Zealand," he says. "The role has taken a heavy toll on me personally, and on my family, and this has become untenable from a health perspective." He says he plans to spend some time out of the spotlight with his family to "restore my energy before reconnecting with my community". "I look forward to continuing to serve as a loyal member of the National Party team and Member of Parliament for Bay of Plenty." It comes after the party was rocked by scandal over the last week. National MP Hamish Walker announced he wouldn't stand for re-election after leaking private information of Covid-19 patients, while health spokesperson Michael Woodhouse later admitted he too received the confidential information - although he says he didn't leak it. Mr Muller initially suggested Mr Woodhouse hadn't received the information, before backtracking just one day later and admitting he knew he had. Mr Muller has only been the National Party leader role since May 22, when he rolled then-leader Simon Bridges in a coup. At the time, he told MPs he deserved to take over the leadership as the party wouldn't be able to win with Mr Bridges in charge.
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Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
🎉 2026 is almost here!
We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?
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10.1% Yes! New Year, New Me
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19.5% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
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70.4% Nah - not for me
Amazingly quiet night in Green Bay
All the Best for the New Year! The last few years they started banging days earlier already, but this year it was amazingly quiet. Now either people suddenly got smart and care about animals and the environment (which I don’t believe for a second) or it’s the clearest sign of the Cost of Living Crisis we are in. I’m just glad I can make a damn fine bread for under a dollar.
The Summer Kiwi Quiz is back by popular demand
Grab a copy of your local Stuff newspaper between 1 Jan - 28 Jan and participate in the Summer Kiwi Quiz! Test your knowledge, answer the daily New Zealand based questions, and find out how well you know our beautiful country!
Each correct answer will get you one entry into the draw to WIN 1 of 5 Ooni Karu 2 Portable Pizza Oven bundles, valued at $1024! Each bundle includes: an Ooni Karu 2 Multi-Fuel Portable Pizza Oven, Ooni Karu 2 Carry Cover, Ooni 12" Perforated Peel, Ooni Digital Infrared Thermometer and an Ooni Cookbook: Cooking with Ooni. The more answers you enter correctly, the higher your chance of winning. For more information and to submit your answers, click here
The Team at Stuff
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