New Zealand’s PM John Key  announced his resignation for personal reasons on Monday, New Zealand Government reported.

“This is the hardest decision I've ever made and I don't know what I'll do next”, John Key said during weekly press conference.

As it was noted, his wife asked him to resign.

“Today I announced my resignation as Prime Minster and Leader of the National Party,” the politician tweeted later.

The National Party caucus will hold a meeting on December 12 to decide the new party leader and Prime Minister.

It is expected that the member of the New Zealand parliament Bill English will take the post of Prime Minister. Key said he would support whoever the caucus chose, but he endorsed Bill English as his replacement.

John Key has been the prime minister of New Zealand since 2008.