Former finance minister Grant Robertson will retire from Parliament next month as he becomes the vice-chancellor of his alma mater Otago University.
Robertson will take a break before taking on his new job in July.
He said shortly after the news broke: "I am extremely grateful for the privilege of being a Member of Parliament for the last 15 years. The opportunity to represent the people of Wellington Central, and to be a minister has been an enormous honour.
"I have given absolutely everything I have had to these roles, but now is the right time for me to move on to a new set of opportunities and challenges."
He continued: "I want to acknowledge the wider Labour whānau and my Parliamentary colleagues over 15 years for their support.
"In particular, my friend the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern who led our country through the unchartered waters of a terrorist attack and a global pandemic.
"I was so fortunate to serve alongside Jacinda and Chris Hipkins as Prime Ministers and have huge admiration for how they performed their roles."
Robertson said of his new job: "The role of vice chancellor at the University of Otago is a very special one to me. The university gave me such a fantastic start in my life and career, and the opportunity to give back is an exciting prospect."
His place in Parliament will be taken by the next person on Labour's list, former New Plymouth MP Glen Bennett.
Robertson's finance portfolio will be handed to Mana MP Barbara Edmonds, amid a wider reshuffle as a result of the tenured Parliamentarian's resignation.
The former Wellington Central MP first entered politics in 2008 following former prime minister Helen Clark's defeat that year.
In 2015, he later ran for Labour leader, losing to Andrew Little. He became finance minister following the election of Jacinda Ardern as PM in 2017.
Following speculation at Parliament, the news of Robertson's departure from politics was broken this morning by an email the university sent out to staff.
In an email to staff, university chancellor Stephen Higgs wrote: "I am pleased to announce the appointment of Former Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Grant Robertson to the role of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago, effective from 1 July 2024.
"Grant has a long history with Dunedin, and the University, starting with his own experience as a student at the University of Otago and as OUSA President.
"We are delighted to welcome an alumnus of his calibre to this key leadership role. During the recruitment process, his appreciation for and understanding of the needs of students was evident."
Robertson's resignation comes after a string of MP resignations following Labour's shattering election defeat last year.
After Bennett, the next three candidates on Labour's list, who could become MPs in the event of another resignation, include Vanushi Walters, Dan Rosewarne, and Naisi Chen.
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