KEY POINTS:
National MP Clem Simich says the time is right for him to move on and he will stand down at this year's election.
Mr Simich said he made the decision some weeks ago not to seek selection on National's list.
He had decided earlier not to put his name forward for an electorate.
"There comes a time when you just have to change. Move on. That's nothing unusual and it's more so in politics. I've been thinking about it for a while and I made a decision some weeks back."
He had confirmed that decision with the leader, president and board members and the National Party caucus had also been told.
Mr Simich is Parliament's deputy speaker and had been considered likely to get the job of Speaker if National is elected to power at the election.
He said yesterday a lot of things had to happen before that would have become reality and there had been "no certainty" he would have got the job.
He will continue in the role of deputy speaker, a job he has enjoyed, until the election.
Mr Simich entered Parliament in 1992, following the resignation of Sir Robert Muldoon.
He held the Tamaki electorate for about 12 1/2 years before stepping aside from the safe National seat in 2004 to campaign as a list candidate.
He said at the time the party leadership wanted him to be Speaker, if National was elected to power. To fill that role, it was better for him to be a list MP so he was removed from the cut and thrust of politics and the obligations of servicing an electorate.
Mr Simich yesterday said that was an arrangement he had made with the leadership at the time and an "exchange" had been made - his seat for "some hope" of a tilt at Speaker.
"But that was never as concrete as it may have sounded."
National did not win the 2005 election, in any case, and even if it had there were no guarantees because positions were shared around "quite a bit sometimes" under arrangements between coalition partners when governments were formed.
During the last National Government, Mr Simich was Minister of Police, Minister of Corrections, Minister of Racing and Minister in charge of the Audit Department.
"I've had a good run. I've done the things I wanted to do. I've had the great privilege of being there."
Parliament was "like a magnet" but he was happy to be leaving and was looking forward to spending more time with his wife Ann and family.
Mr Simich's working life has included being a barrister and solicitor, farmer, kauri gum miner, detective sergeant and he has been involved in several businesses.
He said he was not retiring as such: "I actually want to do things."
National leader John Key said Mr Simich had given long and distinguished service to both the National Party and Parliament and he thanked him for his contribution.
- NZPA
