Wellington, Dec 7 NZPA - Outgoing Labour Party President Mike Williams has also quit his appointments to government boards as the fallout from the November election continues.

Mr Williams told the party's governing council over the weekend that he would stand aside, expected to take effect when his replacement is voted on in March.

The current national secretary of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, Andrew Little, has said he wants the job, and he is likely to stand unopposed.

Nominations for the position close on Friday.

Prime Minister John Key said that as a political appointee, Mr Williams should also be standing down from his government appointments.

Mr Williams had already heard the message and had resigned, he told Radio New Zealand today.

He said he was advised by the agency that oversees crown-owned companies, the Crown Company Monitoring Advisory Unit, that his resignation was expected by the new Government.

As a result, Mr Williams had resigned from Genesis Energy, the New Zealand Transport Agency, and GNS Science.

Mr Williams' resignation follows that of the previous leader and deputy leader, Helen Clark and Michael Cullen, who have already stepped down.

Mr Williams became party president in 2000 after a long involvement in the party, including as campaign manager.

He was credited with great organisational ability, and the party's effort in getting supporters to vote in 2005 was lauded by many as crucial in the victory for Labour.

However, since then, Mr William's reputation has taken a number of knocks.

In February 2008, he offered his resignation over the handling of donations to Labour from Owen Glenn.

He also courted trouble when he was recorded saying it would be a good idea for Labour activists to distribute government promotion material, which would have been a breach of electoral law.

Mr Williams also made a bid late in the election campaign to associate Mr Key with a fraudulent tax dodge scam in the 1980s.

Many think that attempt backfired on Labour and hurt the party in the eyes of voters, who had tired of mudslinging.

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