New Zealand Green Party to seek new co-leader

The co-leader of New Zealand's third biggest parliamentary political party, the Green Party, announced Friday he was standing down from the post.

Russel Norman, who is also the party's finance and climate change spokesperson, said he would resign after nine years as co- leader at the party's annual general meeting in May.

"After nearly a decade as co-leader, now is a good time to find a new challenge for myself, and to spend more time with my family, " Norman said in a published speech to his caucus.

"In my nine years as co-leader we have more than doubled our electoral support to over 10 percent. I am personally gratified to have been part of a team that led our party to its two most successful election results ever."

Norman has been widely credited with transforming the Greens from an environment-focused minor party into a center-left force with a strong set of economic and social policies that propelled it to take 14 seats in the 121-seat Parliament.

Although it has never held any government posts since entering Parliament in 1995, the Green Party is seen as an essential coalition partner for the main center-left Labor Party should it be returned to power in future.

Fellow co-leader Metiria Turei is to retain her post after elections for a new co-leader are held in May.