<p data-testid="paragraph-0">WELLINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will not seek re-election and plans to step down no later than early February, she said in a televised statement on Thursday.</p>
<p data-testid="paragraph-1">A general election would be held on Oct. 14, she added.</p>
<p data-testid="paragraph-2">"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," a visibly emotional Ardern said during the statement. "I have not been able to do that."</p>
<p data-testid="paragraph-3">Ardern's term will conclude no later than Feb. 7.</p>
<p data-testid="paragraph-4">Ardern said she believed the New Zealand Labour Party would win the upcoming election and added that a vote to elect the next Labour leader would be held on Sunday.</p>
<p data-testid="paragraph-5">New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson, who also serves as finance minister, said in a statement he would not seek to stand as the next Labour leader.</p>
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<div>[Reporting by Lucy Craymer in Wellington Writing by Alasdair Pal Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Gerry Doyle]</div>

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New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern says she will step down next month