Labour's deputy leader Annette King is retiring - and she and Leader Andrew Little are backing Jacinda Ardern as her replacement.

"After some reflection, I have decided to step down from the deputy leader's position in the Labour Party," Ms King announced on Wednesday morning.



Ms King is a long-serving MP for Rongotai, and Labour's health spokesperson. She told Newshub "there has been absolutely no pressure on me to stand aside at all".

"I've been around 30 years in politics. Ten elections, eight leaders, and one thing I really wanted to achieve before I did retire was to ensure my successor was confirmed in the seat of Rongotai, and that's Paul Eagle."

Mr Eagle was confirmed two weeks ago.

She is nominating newly-elected MP for Mt Albert Jacinda Ardern as her replacement.

"I actually think that Jacinda is ready to be the deputy. Having that win in Mt Albert - having a base - being grounded in an electorate is really important. And she has worked hard, she's stood in seats that are unwinnable, and she's won, and she's ready, and I think she'll make a really good deputy."

She said Ms Ardern is going to be "one of the stars of the future".