Jeanette Fitzsimons mulls change

Green co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons has raised the prospect of standing down as leader, saying she will decide next year whether to continue as leader into the 2008 election.

"I'll make that decision next February," she said on TV One's Agenda programme on Saturday.

"If I were to decide not to contest the next election I would step down as leader next year, but at the moment I am [of a mind] to continue."

Jeanette Fitzsimons, who has been an MP for 10 years, said she was in good health and still enjoying her job.

The party conference, which meets annually in June, decides on leadership, not the six-member caucus.

Under the party rules, she would have to be replaced with a woman. MPs Sue Bradford and Metiria Turei are considered the two top contenders.

Next week will be the first anniversary of the death of co-leader Rod Donald. Jeanette Fitzsimons indicated that they had worked out a transition plan for a new leadership.

"Rod and I planned to lead at different times in order to facilitate the transition to a new leadership."

Non-MP Russel Norman is the other co-leader.