In the lead up to the announcement of the new National Party leader, New Zealand First has named its new deputy leader.

Fletcher Tabuteau has been named deputy following the party's caucus meeting this morning.

"New Zealand First extends its immense gratitude for the service of Ron Mark as deputy leader," New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said in a statement today.

"The party recognises Ron is an integral member of the team and we look forward to him playing a key role in the current government in his capacity as Minister of Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs."

Mr Tabuteau has been a member of the New Zealand First party since it began.

He's currently the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Foreign affairs and to the Minister of Regional Economic Development. </s> New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has announced Fletcher Tabuteau has won the battle to be his new deputy.

Mr Tabuteau has been a member of the party since its inception and is currently serving his second term in Parliament. He takes the position of former deputy leader Ron Mark.

"New Zealand First indicated last week that it would consider the deputy-leadership position at its caucus meeting this morning," says Mr Peters.

"After careful consideration, the caucus today supported Fletcher Tabuteau to take over the role and I congratulate him on this appointment as deputy leader.

"New Zealand First extends its immense gratitude for the service of Ron Mark as deputy leader. The party recognises Ron is an integral member of the team, and we look forward to him playing a key role in the current government in his capacity as Minister of Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs."

"It is my honour to announce that today I was successfully nominated as the Deputy Leader of New Zealand First," Mr Tabuteau says.

"The role comes with significant responsibility and I am delighted to have received the confidence of my caucus colleagues."

Newshub reporter Lloyd Burr says he is surprised that the "relative new-comer" won.

"I was of the mind that Ron Mark would absolutely cruise through that," he says.

"But no, there is a spanner in the works - he has been rolled by an MP called Fletcher Tabuteau."

Last week, rumours swirled that a deputy-leadership coup was brewing in NZ First, although it wasn't clear who was planning to challenge Mr Mark for his position.

But Burr says this "deputy-leadership roulette" won't affect any fight for the main prize - the leadership Mr Peters currently holds.



"What this means is that whoever is in that deputy leadership role is not the successor to Winston Peters," Burr says.

"If he ever does go his successor doesn't necessary have to be the deputy leader. Shane Jones could fit straight into that leadership role - it doesn't have to be the deputy."

Newshub. </s> Bill English is expected to become the next Prime Minister of New Zealand after being elected as the leader of the National Party.

English will replace former Prime Minister John Key, who unexpectedly resigned on December 5 after leading his party for 10 years and the country for eight.

"I am both excited and humbled by this opportunity," English said in a statement. "As Prime Minister, I will be committed to building a New Zealand which rewards hard work and enterprise and which cares for our most vulnerable."

English said that he and Paula Bennett, who will be his deputy leader, will be sworn in on Monday. </s> Tauranga MP Simon Bridges (Ngāti Maniapoto) has been announced the new leader of the National Party.

Bridges is joined by Paula Bennett (Tainui), who remains in the role of Deputy Leader.

A total of 56 National MPs gathered this morning in a caucus meeting to cast their votes on the party leadership.

The five contenders included Bridges, Judith Collins, Steven Joyce, Mark Mitchell and Amy Adams.

Earlier today, Bridges told Te Kāea he was a “proud Māori” and if he was to be made the leader, he hoped it would inspire other Māori.

“I think it’s definitely a part of who I am. It’s a part of what makes me and I hope Māori New Zealanders see that and are excited about that. It shows them that actually they can achieve and they can do interesting things with their lives and there’s a lot of opportunity in this country.”

In the last National-led Government, Bridges held several ministerial portfolios including Labour, Energy, Transport, Communications, Economic Development and Leader of the House. </s> New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English and Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett on Monday. Credit:Cameron Burnell/Fairfax NZ Asked whether he would stay on for the full term if he wins the elections in 2017, Mr English said: "That's about three layers of hypotheticals there. Let's wait until I'm sworn in first." He is expected to be sworn in on Monday afternoon. Mr English takes the reins of a country in good economic shape compared to much of the developed world. He has held several ministerial posts across education, health and finance since joining parliament in 1990.

As finance minister, his key policies included moves to partly privatise several state-owned energy firms and Air New Zealand, cutting personal tax and corporate tax rates and increasing the goods and services tax. National Party Deputy Leader, Bill English, was also Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister. He becomes NZ's 39th Prime Minister Credit:Getty Images Heading into the caucus meeting, Mr Key said he had confidence in his successor. "But I know I'm passing over to tremendously good hands in the form of Bill English and Paula Bennett and they're going to steer the country extremely well," Mr Key said. John Key resigned last week. Credit:Getty Images

Ms Bennett is the first Maori in a leadership position in a long while. In comments after the vote she said it was part of her identity, but was not going to pretend to have grown up on a marae. Despite initial competition from Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Police Minister Judith Collins, Mr English was the last man standing in the race. Both stood down on Thursday after it became clear the 54-year-old finance minister had the backing of the majority of the 59-member caucus. Ms Collins says she didn't expect to be punished for her failed bid at the leadership, nor does Simon Bridges who was hopeful for a continued role in cabinet. The transport minister on Saturday withdrew his own bid to be deputy, clearing the way for fifth ranked Mrs Bennett to be elected unopposed.

He said the new leaders were "spoilt for choice" with those around them. Mr English has already revealed senior cabinet minister Steven Joyce would replace him as finance minister. "You'll see probably a typical finance minister with some interest in particular areas," Mr Joyce said as he walked into the vote. There are expected to be more tweaks to come in terms of cabinet and policy. Loading

"We'll use it as an opportunity for a stocktake and we'll see how that looks in January, February," he said. AAP, Stuff.co.nz, Reuters </s> National Party leader Bill English has resigned and will officially step down from his role on February 27 making way for a new party leader.

Bill English announced his resignation at a press conference at Parliament this morning flanked by his wife Mary, his sons, and many fellow National MPs standing behind him. He informed caucus of his decision this morning and at one point while talking to media fought back tears during the announcement. </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> The former New Zealand prime minister Bill English has resigned as leader of the opposition less than six months after being defeated by Labour’s ‘stardust’ Jacinda Ardern.

Speculation had been building for weeks that English would step aside, and the decision became clear after the National party met for a two-day conference in Tauranga last week.

“Now is the right time for me to step aside and embark on new professional and personal challenges. I informed the national caucus this morning that I am resigning as leader of the national party,” English said at an emotional press conference this morning.

“I believe this will give National’s new leader time to prepare the party time for the 2020 election. It has been a huge privilege to lead the party and serve in politics.”

English said he would step aside on 27 February.

National secured 46% of the vote in the 2017 September election, giving it 58 seats in parliament, while Labour took home 35.8% and 45 seats.

After weeks of deliberation kingmaker Winston Peters threw his support behind the Labour party, allowing them to form a coalition government with the Greens, as Ardern as prime minister. </s> SYDNEY, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Michael McCormack was on Monday elected Australia's new deputy prime minister after being selected as the leader of the country's National Party, the junior partner in the country's coalition government.

McCormack replaces former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce who was forced to resign last week amid public anger over an extramarital affair with his former press secretary with whom he is now expecting a child.

The leader of the National Party automatically becomes deputy prime minister under the terms of the coalition agreement with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's Liberal party. (Reporting by Colin Packham, editing by David Evans)
Ron Mark is succeeded by Fletcher Tabuteau as deputy leader of New Zealand First.