Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to his outgoing New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern.

“I worked for only a relatively short time with Jacinda as PM but even in that brief period I feel something of her has rubbed off on me,” Mr Albanese said.

“I can’t quite mouth the words to express what it is, but I just know she has influenced me in a very deep and meaningful, almost physical way.

“I wish her well in her post-political life and trust she will soon find another role to get her teeth into,” he said.

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A New Zealand political analyst says Jacinda Ardern’s replacement as NZ PM will need to carve out their own identity in time for the October election.

Professor of Politics and Ovine Tapeworm Research at Auckland University, Shep Herd, said there was no doubt Arden had been the dominant personality in her government.

“She has fashioned the government and the NZ Labour Party in her own image, there’s no doubt about that,” Prof Herd said.

“It’s been a shear delight… I mean a sheer delight watching how she has run the government almost as a one-woman band.

“Ewe wouldn’t… I mean you wouldn’t know other ministers even existed.

“So her successor will need to establish their own distinct image and do that in time for the election later this year.

“Already Deputy PM Grant Robertson (at left below) has ruled himself out of contention leaving as frontrunners Education Minister Chris Hipkins (middle below) and Justice Minister Kiri Allan (at right below).

“Either would be a competent PM and should secure another term for Labour baa any …. I mean, bar any political disaster in the next few months,” he said.

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Sources close to the NZ Prime Minister’s Office say Jacinda Ardern’s faeces have rapidly returned to their previous odourless state overnight.

The change in NZ PM’s stools from aroma free, lavender coloured, almost edible dollops to overpoweringly rancid and sloppy coils had been noted by government insiders and was reported by The Bug just earlier this month. (below)

However, sources close to the PM say Ms Ardern’s stools had now returned to their previous inoffensive and totally odourless state.

“It’s a remarkable transformation and seems to have occurred from the moment she announced her impending departure from the top job.” the source said.