The Labour Party is losing one of its most experienced and influential politicians as it faces the huge job of rebuilding after its crushing election defeat.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson is quitting to take up the role of Vice-Chancellor at Otago University.
It means Labour will now have just nine members of parliament who were in the 20-strong cabinet formed after their 2020 election win.
Grant Robertson says one of his proudest moments was the way his party dealt with the early days of Covid 19.
RNZ political editor Jo Moir spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
