Michael Cullen. Pic: NZPA

Wellington, April 8 NZPA - Michael Cullen was one of National's most trenchant critics for 27 years but now there are only compliments and kind words from his former foes.

Dr Cullen announced yesterday he was retiring from politics at the end of the month to become deputy chairman of New Zealand Post -- an appointment brokered by Prime Minister John Key.

It has been an open secret for months that Dr Cullen was going to leave Parliament and the former finance minister revealed Mr Key called him before Christmas to discuss new roles.

Dr Cullen once called Mr Key a "rich prick" but the prime minister said yesterday there was no bad blood between them.

"We wish him the best for his retirement," Mr Key said.

"We think he's a man with tremendous skills and we're now looking forward to him deploying those at NZ Post."

Finance Minister Bill English, who often clashed with Dr Cullen in Parliament, said he had not agreed with all the decisions Dr Cullen made when the previous government was in power.

But he was one of few people in the Labour Party who understood the economy, Mr English said.

"He is a capable person and he has put his services at the disposal of the Government and we are going to use them."

During his 27-year political career Dr Cullen served as deputy leader for 12 years and finance minister for nine years.

He was former prime minister Helen Clark's fixit man and the pair effectively ran the Labour government while it was in power.

Dr Cullen said Labour's election loss and his decision to return to the backbenches left him unsatisfied and with time on his hands.

"The time has come for me to move on," he said.

Dr Cullen, who was treaty negotiations minister in the previous government, will also become principal adviser to Waikato-Tainui chairman Tuku Morgan and will work with Ngati Tuwharetoa and the Ahuriri claimant group in Napier on the treaty claims.

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