Media releases

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Waitangi Day time to ask: where is New Zealand headed?

MEDIA RELEASE 4 February 2012

"This Waitangi Day is an important time to start thinking about where New Zealand is headed as a nation - not just where we've been" said Republican Movement chair Lewis Holden.

The Queen's Ascension Day coincides with Waitangi Day, something which Jock Philips of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage describes as an "accident of history".

"The Queen has been our head of state for 60 years this year. While there will be plenty of reflection on the past, the Republican Movement's focus remains on New Zealand's future, especially with the forthcoming consitutional review" continued Mr Holden.

On Waitangi Day, the Republican Movement will publish its draft policy statement for public discussion. This statement will form the basis of its campaign to start New Zealanders thinking about who our head of state is.

"The transition to a New Zealand republic is a simple, but important step in New Zealand's progression to full and unambigous independence. Whether we think the Queen has done a great job as our head of state for the last 60 years or not, the reality is New Zealand is a very different place than it was in 1952. What will the next 60 years bring us as a country?

A New Zealand republic can still retain our historical links as a former part of the British Empire while asserting our nation on the world stage. It's time to ask: where are we headed?" concluded Mr Holden.

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Time to Broadcast Jerry's Speech

MEDIA RELEASE 23 December 2011 

"The Republican Movement welcomes moves by Government House to broadcast the Governor-General's new year message" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

Government House has confirmed that for the first time ever, the Governor-General's 2012 new year message will be recorded and broadcast on YouTube. The Republican Movement calls on New Zealand's television networks to broadcast the message as widely as the Queen's Christmas message.

"With 47% of Kiwis stating in a recent Readers' Digest poll that they're not going to watch the Queen's Christmas message, it's time for TVNZ, TV3, Prime and Sky News to broadcast the Governor-General's new year message instead."

"Past Governor-General's messages have been far more relevant to New Zealanders, and are on a date that reflects the reality of New Zealand's secular society" concluded Mr Holden.

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Succession changes should be part of constitutional review

MEDIA RELEASE 29 October 2011

The Republican Movement calls on the government to include changes to the monarchy's succession rules in the constitutional review. New Zealanders have the right to decide the rules that determine who our head of state is.

"The proposed changes anounced at CHOGM is irrelevant to every day New Zealanders, just like the monarchy itself. The changes, to remove the sexist rules from the succession, only remind us how long the monarchy has discriminated against women and Catholics," said Savage, vice-chair of the Republican Movement.

"These aren't just out of date rules about which Windsor will assume the British throne. They're a statement about our constitution and about who is and who isn't allowed to be New Zealand's head of state."

An agreement, signed yesterday during the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (CHOGM), calls on the 16 "realm" countries to remove the ban on older females succeeding to the throne ahead of male heirs, and to allow the monarch to marry a Catholic. The rule against our head of state from being a Catholic remains, because the British monarch is head of the Church of England.

"These rules still mean that if you're a New Zealander - Pakeha, Maori, Pacific or Asian, you are not as good as the British royal family and can't be head of state of New Zealand" concluded Savage.

Rule change for William and Kate's first child underlines monarchy's absurdity

MEDIA RELEASE 13 October 2011

British Prime Minister David Cameron is mustering support for changes to rules for the British monarchy's succession, and will lead a meeting at this month's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth, Australia. The changes put the absurdity of the monarchy in New Zealand back into the spotlight.

"This is a ridiculous situation: Britain's PM will essentially be telling the 15 Commonwealth realms - including New Zealand - what their constitutional law will be. While the changes are well overdue, the form they are taking emphasises the way the monarchy undermines New Zealand's independence" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

Earlier in the year New Zealand Prime Minister John Key pledged his support for changing the sexist males-before-females rule, which currently means that if William and Kate's first born child is a girl, she would come second to a younger male child because of her gender. Mr Cameron also proposes getting rid of the discriminatory rule banning Catholics. This is unlikely to succeed as it would mean the United Kingdom would have to disestablish the Church of England.

"More than likely, New Zealand will be stuck with the discriminatory rules banning Catholics from the throne because of the arcane rules of another country. There is no-way New Zealanders would accept such discrimination in any other office. It's clear that the changes are being rushed in before William and Kate's first child is born. This is an absurd situation for the office of New Zealand's head of state in the 21st century to be in. The simplest way to get rid of this discrimination is to have an independent New Zealander as our head of state" concluded Mr Holden.

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Prime Minister chooses a Governor-General - people choose a president

MEDIA RELEASE 31 August 2011

"New Zealanders are more than mature enough to choose a head of state of their own. New Zealand will get its 20th Governor-General following another colonial-era ceremony today. Sir Jerry is only the 10th New Zealander to hold the office, now considered our de facto head of state" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

In contrast, the people of Ireland will go to the polls on 27 October to elect a new president. The Governor-General is appointed by the Queen, on the exclusive advice of the Prime Minister.

"While we wish Sir Jerry well, the office he holds is increasingly at odds with the aspirations of New Zealanders. Despite the evolution of the office in recent years - notably during Sir Paul Reeves tenure as Governor-General in representing New Zealand overseas - the office is not a full New Zealand head of state. That position is monopolised by an absentee family in the United Kingdom" said Mr Holden.

"The Republican Movement and a number of academics feel that the office does not provide sufficient constitutional checks, and does not have sufficient checks put on it. When compared with other countries following the parliamentary system with an elected head of state, this is clearly the case. The Governor-General's powers are not clearly defined, nor does their appointment process lead to an independent arbiter as some claim the office is. New Zealand deserves better checks and balances. New Zealanders deserve the right to choose their head of state" concluded Mr Holden.

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Governor-General: time to let the public decide

MEDIA RELEASE 17 August 2011
"Today, a ceremony that is little changed since colonial times will take place in Wellington.

Republican Movement mourns Sir Paul Reeves

MEDIA RELEASE 14 August 2011

"The Republican Movement mourns the passing last night of New Zealand's first Maori Archbishop and Governor-General, Sir Paul Reeves" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

Republican Movement welcomes Constitutional Advisory Panel

MEDIA RELEASE 4 August 2011

"The Republican Movement welcomes the announcement of the 12 independent members of the Constitutional Advisory Panel this afternoon. Like the Republican Movement, the panel's membership is drawn from all sides of politics and sectors of New Zealand society" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

Cross your fingers Hone!

MEDIA RELEASE 2 August 2011

"Hone Harawira's oath drama highlights the question of who our elected representatives owe their allegiance to" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

"The Republican Movement continues to campaign for all New Zealanders - whether they're politicians, new citizens, judges, police officers or even teachers - to swear allegiance to New Zealand and New Zealanders" continued Mr Holden.

"Swearing allegiance to a Sovereign is a feudal irrelevancy. Swearing allegiance to an individual - no matter how respected - is the stuff of tin-pot dictatorships. While it might be common in monarchies, it's not the rule - across the Tasman Australian politicians swear allegiance to Australia. It's time New Zealand's politicians and others did the same" concluded Mr Holden.

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More information can be found at: www.republic.org.nz/oaths

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Beginning of the end for Queen's Birthday

MEDIA RELEASE 1 June 2011

The Republican Movement has begun a campaign that will see Queen's birthday fade away and be replaced by a Matariki public holiday.

"Under the new Holidays Act legislation workers can now transfer their existing Queen's birthday holiday to Matariki,or any other day significant to them simply by signing an agreement with their employer" said Savage, vice-chair of the Republican Movement. "We're making it easy for both workers and employers by providing an easy to download guide from our website."

Every year starting this year we will be encouraging more and more New Zealanders to say goodbye to Queen's Birthday and say hello to a day that actually means something to New Zealand's place in the world.

Queen's Birthday is only on the first Monday in June because the Monarchy wanted to herald the start of the British summer. They don't even celebrate it as a holiday in the UK anymore and it is certainly not summer in this part of the world. It is a relic of a bygone era.

"For the third year in a row, a survey by the Republican Movement has found no city or district council in New Zealand holds celebrations for the Queen's Birthday holiday. Matariki celebrations are everywhere. Observing and celebrating Matariki is not only more meaningful and it is a lot more colourful and fun" said Savage.

This year Matariki and Queen's Birthday fall on the same weekend so its perfect timing to launch our campaign. 2011 will be the beginning of the end of Queen's Birthday weekend in New Zealand. June 6th is D-Day for Queen's Birthday weekend. 


NOTES

More information can be found at: www.republic.org.nz/matariki

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