Twitter reacts to Metiria Turei's resignation

New Zealand Twitter erupted following news of Metiria Turei's resignation on late Wednesday afternoon.

Turei resigned as Green Party co-leader one day afte saying she would stay on as co-leader until the election.

Pressure on her family was the reason given for her resignation.

MIHI AROHA, THANK YOU. I'm still here for you and we are going to take our country back!! The @NZGreens need you more than ever 💚

— Metiria Turei (@Metiria_Turei) August 9, 2017

Twitter users, for the most part, had an instant outpouring of support for Turei.

Happy now, NZ? All good?

— Jolisa Gracewood (@nzdodo) August 9, 2017

Thank u for starting such an impt conversation @metiria, we are still with u and fighting for this so hard 💚

— B (@barbarikkizzle) August 9, 2017

Metiria Turei is the only person, the only person that showed us what is actually happening in NZ. Everyone else is all talk.

— Sassy Little Hobbit (@LI_politico) August 9, 2017

You all need to think bloody hard about the difference between holding politicians to account and THIS dirty, underhanded bullshit.

— Stephanie Rodgers 🌹 (@bootstheory) August 9, 2017

Today is a major victory for taxpayers, for honest beneficiaries, and for decency in politics.

— David Seymour (@dbseymour) August 9, 2017

Others, like ACT MP David Seymour, showed less sympathy. Seymour said Turei's resignation is a "major victory for taxpayers, for honest beneficiaries, and for decency in politics".

Turei has been under growing pressure after she admitted to historical offending while on the benefit 20 years ago.

Co-leader James Shaw said yesterday he backed Turei despite the disarray caused by her confessions and her subsequent handling of it.

He rejected suggestions that Turei had also brought the party into disrepute, saying her problems were historical.

"We felt that resigning for something that happened 25 years ago was totally disproportionate.