Labour MP Duncan Webb. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Labour MP Duncan Webb has announced he will step down at next year's election, saying it's time for a change after nearly nine years in Parliament.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the party's justice spokesperson said it had been a "huge privilege" to serve both as a local MP for Christchurch Central and as a minister in the Labour government.
"Being an MP is an enormous honour - and I want to thank my local members and the people of Christchurch for putting their trust in me to do this job on their behalf. I want to assure them that I won't be slowing down before the election. I am still here to help," Webb said.
Webb said the decision came after much reflection and he planned to take a break before pursuing a new career outside politics.
"I particularly love the justice portfolio and would like to thank Labour Leader Chris Hipkins for putting his trust in me to do it, as well as my Labour caucus colleagues who are a fantastic bunch to work the relentless days and long nights with," he said.
"But I've decided I am going to take a break and then do something else. I want to spend more time adventuring, exploring nature, hiking, skiing and mountain biking with my partner and now-adult sons.
"After that I'll see what's out there, but I believe I have another exciting career in me yet."
Labour's leader Chris Hipkins said Webb had told him about his decision a week or two ago.
"He'd been thinking about his own future and decided that now was the right time for him to move on. He wants to have another job and another sort of career outside of politics before he retires, and has decided that now is the right time for him to go and pursue that.
"I was very sad to see him go. I think Duncan's made a huge contribution here at Parliament, and could have continued to do so he decided to stay. But all MPs make these decisions from time to time, and I want to wish him all the best."
He said Webb - who would continue as Justice Spokesperson and retain his other roles for now - had assured him the decision had nothing to do with politics or personality.
"It's purely a personal decision, and I accept that at face value ... it was a bit of a surprise, actually, sort of just one of those things that people sometimes go away, reflect on things for a bit and come back and say 'actually, I've just decided this isn't really me anymore'.
"I would have loved him to stay, he would have certainly been a minister ... should we win the next election."
Webb's decision adds to a growing list of senior Labour MPs announcing their retirement. Grant Robertson, Kelvin Davis, David Parker and Rino Tirikatene have all left Parliament since the 2023 election.
Megan Woods has also announced she will not contest her Wigram seat in 2026 but will run as a list-only candidate.
Before entering politics, Webb was a lawyer and lecturer at the University of Canterbury.
He served as the Chief Government Whip from June 2022 and was made the Minister for Commerce and Consumer Affairs in early 2023.
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