Emotional Prebble says Act needs fresh face

4.15pm - By SUE EDEN

An emotional Richard Prebble today quit as ACT leader, saying he felt it would do better for the party to have a fresh face.

ACT has been lagging in the polls but Mr Prebble's announcement today surprised his caucus, with ACT MP and leadership aspirant Rodney Hide for one saying he had not seen it coming.

Mr Prebble, at times struggling to keep his composure, said he had reached the decision after taking a 10-day break over Easter.

His wife Doreen was at Mr Prebble's media conference today were he made the announcement today.

Mr Hide said the decision had left the caucus "reeling".

Mr Prebble said his leadership had never been challenged, despite speculation he would be rolled.

No one in his caucus or on the party's board had suggested he stand down.

Nor had his caucus tried to persuade him to stay when told of his decision today, knowing him well enough to know his mind was made up, he said.

Mr Prebble told reporters there was no single reason for his decision to stand down but he felt that there would be a change of government at the next election and that with a new leader ACT could be part of that.

"I really do think that there comes a point in politics when there's a time for a change, when there's time for a fresh face and my experience is that many leaders actually stay too long so if people think I've left too early I'll be rather pleased."

Mr Prebble, saying his health was in good shape, said he was making this decision "because I think it's in the best interests of the ACT party and the country".

"ACT as the party of fresh ideas will do better with a fresh face.

"I've always regarded being a Member of Parliament as one of the greatest honours that a country can give. An opportunity to be a party leader is one that falls to very few and that's an even greater honour."

Mr Prebble said it was not an easy decision letting go of the leadership.

"I love this Parliament. And as I've said before, if I knew what fun what it was being leader I would have challenged for the leadership of the Labour Party."

Mr Prebble said that when he lost his Auckland Central seat in 1993, he had enjoyed doing other things such as being a trustee for a kindergarten association and negotiating multi-million deals in China.

"I'm a great believer that when one door closes, another opens."

ACT president Catherine Judd said the party hoped Mr Prebble would stay as a MP, holding a cabinet post in the next National-led government.

The majority of ACT members had supported Mr Prebble "and they will be very saddened and disappointed by his decision," she said.

Mr Prebble said he would stay as leader until ACT members elected a new leader by voting in a United States-style "primary".

He expected that process to take a couple of months.

While the primary would be "indicative" and the caucus ultimately had to formally elect the new leader, he doubted it would ignore the wishes of members who voted in the election. The ACT board would have to ratify the decision.

Mr Prebble said he had "great faith" in the party members to elect a new leader and would not say who he wanted to replace him, saying there were at least four strong candidates before listing all ACT's MPs as possible candidates.

Any future role he held would be discussed with the party's next leader.

Mr Hide, who has made no secret of his leadership aspirations and has talked about serving an apprenticeship for the role, told reporters he would be putting his name forward.

He saw the contest as a good thing and would accept the result made by ACT members.

Asked whether he had undermined Mr Prebble with his comments on the leadership, Mr Hide said he did not accept that.

"I think it has been tough. The media have been chasing him and me and other MPs and I think he's reached a conclusion himself, as he said."

Mr Hide said taking the leadership would be a "step up" and huge challenge for him but he had worked hard to develop his abilities as a parliamentarian and believed he could do the job.

- NZPA