New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced her resignation after leading the country for close to six years and indicated she wanted to spend more time with family.

According to media reports from New Zealand, Ms. Ardern announced her resignation during the Labour Party caucus retreat in Napier and indicated she will step down by Tuesday 7 February.

She reportedly told reporters that she had no plans for New Zealand's general election, now scheduled for 14 October 2023, and wanted to spend more time with her family.

The Mt Albert Member of Parliament will continue in her role until April this year, according to the media reports.

"This summer, I had hoped to find a way to prepare for not just another year, but another term - because that is what this year requires. I have not been able to do that," reports New Zealand's 1 News.

"And so today, I am announcing that I will not be seeking re-election and that my term as Prime Minister will conclude no later than the 7th of February.

"This will give me a bit of time in the electorate before I depart, and also spare them and the country a by-election."

Ms. Ardern told reporters that she "no longer had enough in the tank to do it justice" to her job as the Prime Minister, and she wasn't exiting from politics because she didn't believe Labour Party could win the general election. 

 New Zealand's 1 News reported that the Prime Minister, who was "visibly and audibly emotional", thanked New Zealanders for the opportunity to fulfill the "greatest role" of her life. 

Ms. Ardern's last visit to Samoa as Prime Minister was in August last year to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between Samoa and New Zealand.