BREAKING NEWS: In shock announcement, Todd Muller resigns as leader of Opposition, National Party

Brian from New Lynn

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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