New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern says she has “no plan” for what she plans to do next, but has hinted that one unfulfilled personal matter is high on her agenda.

The New Zealand prime minister dropped a bombshell when she announced her resignation on Thursday, saying she no longer had enough “in the tank”.

Her surprise decision triggered reaction around the world as leaders responded to news of the popular leader’s exit.

Ms Ardern said she intended to remain the Member for Mt Albert until  April to spare the country a by-election.

After that she had “no next steps” but, in a shout out to her husband Clarke, she signalled the possibility of wedding bells in the near future.

She also said whatever her next move, she would “try and find ways to keep working for New Zealand”.

Ms Ardern and Clarke Gayford quietly got engaged in 2019 after nearly five years together but have not yet officially tied the knot despite their best intentions.

They were forced to cancel their wedding plans during the pandemic in early 2022 when NZ had a COVID outbreak and invoked restrictions.

Ms Adern said she was also looking forward to being there for her daughter Neve when she starts school.

Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford was born in Ms Ardern’s first term as prime minister in 2018, making her only the second elected leader in modern history to give birth while in office.

Baby Neve accompanied her globetrotting mum to attend world meetings.

In September 2018 she became the first female head of government to attend a United Nations General Assembly meeting with her infant present.

“I am looking forward to spending time with my family again – arguably, they are the ones that have sacrificed the most out of all of us,” she said.

“And so to Neve, mum is looking forward to being there when you start school this year.

“And to Clarke, let’s finally get married.”

‘Shown the world’

Anthony Albanese has praised his New Zealand counterpart as a woman who led with “intellect and strength”.

The Australia prime minister said Ms Ardern had “shown the world how to lead with intellect and strength”.

“She has demonstrated that empathy and insight are powerful leadership qualities,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Jacinda has been a fierce advocate for New Zealand, an inspiration to so many and a great friend to me.

“I wish (her) and her family well in the next chapter of their lives.”

Mr Albanese added he looked forward to working with the new leader.

Relations between the two countries went through a bumpy patch under Scott Morrison’s prime ministership, particularly over immigration and refugee issues, the treatment of New Zealanders living in Australia, COVID-19 border settings and different takes on China.

Since 2014, Australia has used the Migration Act to cancel visas for NZ residents on criminal or character grounds.

Thousands of New Zealanders have been handed a one-way ticket across the Tasman over the past nine years.

But the election of the Albanese government last year was widely seen as a “reset” in the relationship.

The pair had worked on giving Kiwis living in Australia more rights, including being able to vote and gain an easier pathway to citizenship.

There are also plans in train for annual bilateral meetings between key ministers.

But the trans-Tasman neighbours haven’t been in lockstep on everything, after differences emerged in Pacific migration plans at last year’s Pacific Island Forum.

Mr Albanese said he is pushing to implement Australia’s first Pacific-specific migration plan as his government works to deepen ties in the region.

Labor’s pledge will see a ballot run each year, with 3000 places for citizens from the Pacific and East Timor.

New Zealand scrapped a plan to preference Pacific migration, a move Ms Ardern attributed to COVID-19 at the time.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young described the outgoing prime minister as a “trailblazer and a true inspiration”.

“Heart felt admiration and thanks to (Ms Ardern) for showing that compassion, courage and understanding are the true strengths of leadership,” she tweeted.

– AAP