National MP and Deputy Leader Rt Hon Wyatt Creech today announced that he will not be seeking re-election in 2002 and is therefore stepping down as National's Deputy Leader.

Mr Creech said last year that he would be considering his political future over the summer holidays and would make an announcement in the New Year.

"I phoned Jenny Shipley a few days ago and informed her of my decision.

"I spent a lot of time considering my future and consulting my family who are 100% behind my decision.

"My decision not to stand at the next election led to my decision to resign as Deputy Leader. I want to give the party time to organise itself for 2002 with a new team for the new century.

"I felt it was important that I make my decision now so the National caucus has time to reorganise and the new deputy has time to settle in before the 2002 election.

"My decision was a difficult one. I have enjoyed my thirteen years in Parliament as a National MP and as a Cabinet Minister and then Deputy Prime Minister but it is time to move on.

"Over the next two years I will be applying my experience and skills to helping National position itself for re-election in 2002. After the election I am looking forward to getting out and facing new challenges," Mr Creech said.

Ends

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>