WELLINGTON — Popular New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced his shock resignation on Monday, saying he was never a career politician and it was the right time to go after eight years in the job.

The former Merrill Lynch currency trader called it "the hardest decision I’ve ever made", with no plans on what to do next other than spend more time with his family.

"Being leader of both the party and the country has been an incredible experience," he told a regular weekly news conference.

"But despite the amazing career I have had in politics, I have never seen myself as a career politician."

Key recently marked his eighth anniversary as prime minister and 10th year as leader of the centre-right National Party, which is set to meet next week to elect his successor. His deputy Bill English is widely seen as favourite to take over.

Opinion polls have consistently pointed to Key becoming the first political leader in New Zealand history to win four consecutive elections when the country votes next year, but he said records were not a consideration.

"If you’re staying for the record of the time you’re staying for the wrong reason," he said.

"It’s been an incredible experience and it’s been a real privilege and I’m going to die happy - I hope that’s a long time in the future - but I’m going to feel really proud of what we’ve done," he said.

"But good leaders know when it’s time to go and this is the time to go."

Key came into politics relatively late, entering parliament in 2002 and assuming leadership of the National Party four years later.

By 2008 he had ended nine years of Labour Party rule, ousting then-prime minister Helen Clark.

He won plaudits for his leadership during a string of crises in his first term, including a devastating earthquake in Christchurch in February 2011 which claimed 185 lives.

The 55-year-old also steadied the economy after the global financial crisis without resorting to hard-line spending cuts, instead taking a steady, pragmatic approach that saw the budget return to surplus in the 2015-16 financial year for the first time since 2008.

’Say it ain’t so bro’

When he heard the news, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sent him a brief text message: "Say it ain’t so bro", telling reporters in Melbourne he considered his close friend "one of the most outstanding national leaders in the world today".

New Zealand opposition Labour Party leader Andrew Little acknowledged Key was popular but said he understood why he was walking away.

"Politics requires much sacrifice. We may all be politicians, but not all our lives are politics," Little tweeted.

"The Prime Minister has served New Zealand through times of considerable global instability, and will leave politics proud of his achievements."

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters claimed Key was stepping down because the economy was not as strong as the government made out.

But the prime minister said he felt he was "going out on top", pointing to spending more time with his wife Bronagh and children Stephanie and Max as a key consideration.

"It would be easy to say I have made this decision solely to rediscover the personal and family life I once had, and that is a factor, but it is one among many," he said.

"Over the years I have observed many leaders who, in a similar position, fail to take this step. I can understand why. It is a hard job to leave.

"But, for me and the National Party, this is a good time to go. Party membership is high and the party is well funded.

"The caucus is talented and eager to serve, and one of the achievements of which I am proud is having built with my colleagues a cabinet team that is capable, committed and cohesive." — AFP