'I thought, what have I done?' - Steven Joyce reveals how he found out John Key stood down

December 6, 2017

The then Finance Minister's first thoughts were "what have I done?"

John Key's decision to stand down last year was a moment National MP Steven Joyce will "never forget" due to the way he was told. 

He told an audience in Wellington this morning about the moment that took both parliament, and the country, by complete surprise. 

Mr Key called Mr Joyce after his morning media on December 5, "which he often did, generally when he might have done something he may have regretted". 

"I thought, 'Oh hello, it's ten past nine, something has happened'".

Mr Key told to Mr Joyce there was something he wanted to speak to him about. 

"I said, 'Look I'm just going to get a cup of coffee, is it all right if I call you back?', and he said 'mmm no I think this is the one you need to talk to me about now.'"

"It was one of those conversations where you know one of you is leaving, so all we have to do is establish which one."

"I thought what have I done? But it was John who was going". 

He said it was a shock for the country and the team, but it did become an opportunity for the National Party to look at revitalisation in the party "and a fresh approach". 


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