Media releases

This page lists the Republican Movement's media releases. To subscribe, sign up here.

Head of State debate in Wellington tonight

MEDIA RELEASE 6 May 2013

"Tonight is the last - but certainly not the least - in the Centre for Public Law's debate series. Tonight the series tackles the head of State debate" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement. 

The New Zealand Centre for Public Law (with generous support and funding from the New Zealand Law Foundation) has hosted a series of public debates on the constitutional review. The republic debate tonight is the final in the series, and will be broadcast on Radio New Zealand next Sunday, 12 May.

"The debate starts at 6:30pm tonight and will be held in the Hunter Council Chamber - I'm looking forward to a lively, fun debate" concluded Mr Holden.

ENDS

Media release: Republican Movement welcomes constitutional conversation

MEDIA RELEASE 26 February 2013

"The Republican Movement welcomes the Constitutional Conversation, even though the head of State issue has been excluded by the government" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement. 

The Constitutional Conversation was launched today by the Constitutional Advisory Panel as part of their public submissions process.

"It's good to see public education is an integral part of the process - especially emphasising that New Zealand does have a constitution, and the British monarchy is a part of it" continued Mr Holden.

"The Republican Movement encourages all New Zealanders who support a New Zealand head of State to make a submission to the panel. We will shortly be publishing a submission guide for our members and supporters" concluded Mr Holden.

NOTES

The Constitutional Conversation website is here: http://www.ourconstitution.org.nz/

ENDS

Media release: Succession changes too little, too late for monarchy

MEDIA RELEASE 18 February 2013

"The Royal Succession Bill is too little too late - it doesn't end discrimination against New Zealand babies from being our head of State, nor does it remove one of the worst aspects of the British monarchy's discrimination against Catholics" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement. 

The Bill announced today only affects Royal babies born after the Perth Agreement in 2011, and specifically preserves the Crown as a protestant monarchy.

"This is a poor attempt at modernising an arcane and increasing irrelevant institution. It emphasises that the monarchy is a foreign remnant of our Colonial past - we're only keeping the clause discriminating against Catholics because England has an established protestant church. It will be interesting to see how discrimination against Catholics gets past the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act" continued Mr Holden.

While the end of discrimination against female Royal babies is welcome, it has been pushed through to prevent potential embarrassment the ancient rules would cause the British monarchy if William and Kate's firstborn is a girl.

"It's great to see that the Bill will be open to public submissions and not rushed through. This is probably because of the potential problems it faces elsewhere" concluded Mr Holden

NOTES

The Republican Movement's page on the Bill is here: www.republic.org.nz/succession

ENDS

Herald poll shows New Zealanders want to choose next head of State

MEDIA RELEASE 27 January 2013

"Only 1 in 3 New Zealanders want Prince Charles as their head of State, according to a Key Research - Herald on Sunday poll published today" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement. 

The poll of 1,000 New Zealanders found 43.3% don't want Charles, while 37.4% want Charles. The rest are undecided.

"Whatever their position, it's obvious a majority of New Zealanders want there to be a referendum on the issue. It is the Republican Movement's policy that a two-stage referendum be held, similar to the electoral system referendums of the 90s" continued to Mr Holden.

"After spending $1m on a publicity tour for Charles last year, the result is another reminder that the debate over whether New Zealand should keep the British monarch as our head of State or have a New Zealander as head of State is unavoidable" concluded Mr Holden. 

NOTES

The poll is online here: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10861675

The Republican Movement's policy statement is here: www.republic.org.nz/policy

ENDS

Prince Charles publicity tour cost $200,000 per day

MEDIA RELEASE 17 January 2013

"Figures released to the Republican Movement show the cost to our air force of transporting Prince Charles during his recent publicity tour was $425,000" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement. 

Add the $766,000 from the Department of Internal Affairs' budget and the total cost of the tour to date was $1,191,000. Charles' five day long 2005 tour cost taxpayers $50,000 a day. This recent tour was $200,000 a day.

"On top of unnecessary public relations bills to the New Zealand taxpayer, there's Charles' transport costs - all because Charles doesn't want to fly commercially. When the Queen last visited New Zealand in 2002, she came on a commercial Air New Zealand flight" said Mr Holden.

"In Feilding they brought in school children by the busload to greet the couple then coached them to cheer for Charles and Camilla when they stepped out of the car."

"Even after all the spending the publicity tour failed to shift public support for Charles. Polling we commissioned shows support for Charles as New Zealand's next head of State was unchanged after the tour and support for a New Zealand head of state had gone up. This tour was a waste of taxpayers money - used to promote someone only 1 in 5 New Zealanders want as our head of State" concluded Mr Holden. 

NOTES

The Official Information Act request can be found here: http://www.republic.org.nz/files/OIA-1825-2012%20(Holden)%20Signed.pdf

ENDS

Poll shows Charles failed to impress New Zealanders

MEDIA RELEASE 19 December 2012 


"The latest poll of voters shows New Zealanders were unmoved by the Prince Charles' publicity tour. His support did not rise above 51% and the number of voters who want a New Zealander as the next head of State has increased to 41%" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement. 

First part of Royal tour costs released

MEDIA RELEASE 12 December 2012

"The first part of the costs of Prince Charles publicity tour of New Zealand has been released by the Department of Internal Affairs, showing $766,000 was spent on the 6 day tour by the department alone. This does not include what the Defence Force, Police and local authorities spent" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

Silver Fern versus Hokey Pokey ice-cream - TradeMe cake auctions run neck and neck

MEDIA RELEASE 7 December 2012

"Two fundraising cake auctions from Prince Charles birthday party both reached $100 today as sellers sought to raise money for two different causes" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

Media release: Labour Party republic remit narrowly defeated

MEDIA RELEASE 18 November 2012

"We are glad to see that development of a clear party policy on a New Zealand head of State is now firmly on Labour's agenda" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

The Labour Party voted on a remit to adopt a policy on a New Zealand head of State. The remit was narrowly defeated 52% to 48%.

Time for Change campaign hits Feilding

MEDIA RELEASE 15 November 2012

"The Time for Change campaign hits Feilding" said Savage, one of the organisers of the campaign for a New Zealand head of State, who will be in Fielding today for an interview on TVNZ's Breakfast.

The Republican Movement has no members yet in Fielding but we know there are supporters