Leaving on his terms
This is how every New Zealand Prime Minister (since Seddon) has left office.
Defeated at Election (11)
- Gordon Coates
- George Forbes
- Peter Fraser
- Keith Holyoake (1)
- Walter Nash
- Jack Marshall
- Bill Rowling
- Robert Muldoon
- Mike Moore
- Jenny Shipley
- Helen Clark
Died (4)
- Richard Seddon
- William Massey
- Michael Joseph Savage
- Norman Kirk
Deposed by Party (4)
- Keith Holyoake (2) (effectively)
- David Lange (effectively)
- Geoffrey Palmer
- Jim Bolger
Some may dispute if Holoyoake and Lange were deposed. I go for substance over form. They both wanted to carry on but had lost confidence, even if no formal vote.
Defeated in Parliament (2)
- Joseph Ward (1) (effectively)
- Thomas Mackenzie
One could dispute Ward but he resigned as he was facing a confidence motion, and his successor lost a confidence vote months later.
Resigned for ill health (2)
- Joseph Ward (2)
- Sidney Holland
Temporary (2)
- William Hall-Jones
- Francis Bell
Retired on his terms
- John Key
So Key is the only Prime Minister in at least the last 100 years to have retired from the job on his terms, rather than get pushed out in some way.