He was gone by lunch time...Northcote MP Jonathan Coleman the latest in National to bow out of politics because of other career options, and his young family.

He's announced that after 13 years as an MP he is getting out of the game and taking up the role as CEO of a private healthcare provider Acurity Health Group.

Some might see the irony in the former Health Minister, and the current champion for the public health system from opposition, moving on to the private sector.

Coleman says he wasn't looking to leave, but he was approached by Acurity, with an offer he couldn't refuse.

While another resignation from the upper ranks of National was inevitable - Coleman didn't seem high on the list of who would be the next to go.

He did well out of Simon Bridges' reshuffle - staying on the front bench and keeping his spokesperson portfolios of health and sport and recreation. It's not like we'd seen him demoted.

But when you consider the full landscape, it's perhaps not hard to see why it would be an attractive offer. After nine years as a minister, he's back in opposition, with a failed leadership bid under his belt, and a new leader voted in on a ticket of generational change.

It's not hard to imagine how the message of the need to 'bring new talent through' might sway you if you were on the fence about whether or not to move on - or have your future beyond politics start now.

Jonathan Coleman says he has no regrets from his time in politics - and it's best to bow out while you're at the top. But some viewing the current health care system might disagree with him.

And he never did quite make it to the top - losing out to Bill English in the leadership bid. He says while at least he won't die wondering, he doesn't regret not being leader. And says the reason he didn't even try in this latest round is because his priorities have moved on, and he needed to think of his family, and his future .

And I imagine the fact his discussions with Acurity began about five weeks ago, played a part in that shift in priorities.

But his sudden exit means Northcote will have to have an expensive by-election...just six months after voting their MP in.

Coleman says by-elections are fact of political life - which is true...but not generally so after just six months.

He says after 13 years of service he thinks Northcote-ians will be supportive - and sometimes life just gives you opportunities you have to seize.

The current father of the house, Nick Smith has been staunch in his view that electorate MPs owe it to their constituents to stick it out for their full term - and shouldn't run if they don't think they will. But even he has said he can't criticise Coleman for choosing to take up an extremely attractive offer.

I'm sure many in the National camp will be put their hand up stand in the by-election...But the seat is by no means a sure thing. And National will have to follow through on it's word to not take it for granted and work hard for votes.

But one thing that is sure...this won't be the last senior National MP we see bowing out for an 'attractive offer' or to have a 'life after politics'.