New Zealand's National party has turfed Judith Collins after an unpopular 500-day stint as opposition leader.
Ms Collins took the job in July 2020 after the shock resignation of Todd Muller, leading the party to a thumping defeat in last October's election.
On Thursday morning, she lost the faith of her caucus after a three-hour emergency partyroom meeting.
"I am pleased to say that I am just the MP for Papakura again," she wrote on Twitter, ending the three and a half hour wait for information from the closed-doors meeting.
"It's been a privilege to take over the leadership ... during the worst of times and to do so for 16 months. It has taken huge stamina and resolve."
National is yet to appoint a new leader, with deputy Shane Reti handed the interim role while the party takes stock.
Ms Collins took and lost the job in dramatic circumstances, and her political downfall appears to be largely of her own making.
On Wednesday night, she demoted former leader - and possible leadership rival - Simon Bridges for a lewd comment he made in 2017.
Ms Collins said Mr Bridges was relieved of his portfolios for "an allegation of serious misconduct" relating to "comments made by Mr Bridges to a female caucus member a number of years ago".
NZ media outlet Stuff reports the incident in question occurred in 2017, when National MP Jacqui Dean walked past a group of MPs including Mr Bridges, who made a crude comment.
The incident was reported to then-leader Bill English, and Mr Bridges apologised.
Ms Collins says Mr Bridges' actions caused "ongoing distress" and constituted "harassment and intimidation".
However, the resurfacing of the comments was seen as political, prompting a vicious backlash and an emergency caucus meeting.
Mr Bridges - who led the party between 2018 and 2020 - described the play as "truly desperate stuff" as he headed into the meeting.
"It shows that she'll go to any length to hold on to her leadership of the National party," he said.
"There's a huge amount I want to say about what happened yesterday and how wrong it was, and I assure you I will.
"I want to talk to my caucus first and be very clear with them about what I think, and what I think should happen for the National party."
Another MP, Simon O'Connor, called for Ms Collins to resign, saying "the way that this has been handled is just outright appalling".
"Judith's leadership is no longer sustainable," he told Radio NZ.
National suffered their worst election result in two decades in last year's election, and remain well behind Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's Labour party in the polls.
The new leader will be National's fifth since the 2017 election, following Bill English, Mr Bridges, Mr Muller and Ms Collins.
Ms Collins has pledged to stay on in parliament and stand again in the 2023 election.
