John Key's parting advice for Bill English was, "trust your instincts". Either way he is going to be a different Prime Minister and his Government will be different. Key made the same decision last year but Key was not a new Prime Minister. But how hard would it be for the new Prime Minister to make sure he is seen up there? The real test of a Prime Minister is at the dawn karakia next morning when a little bit of soul is required.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 13, 2017 16:15 UTC