Archive

March 12th, 2010

Dip in republic support expected: Republican Movement

MEDIA RELEASE: 12 March 2010

"The polling by Research New Zealand showing a dip in support for New Zealand becoming a republic to 32% is expected after a Prince William's royal tour" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

March 10th

Monarchists: most republicans "very angry"

Posted 9 March, 2010 - 13:36 by LJ Holden
Monarchy New Zealand, responding to Matt McCarten's article from the Herald on Sunday, says:

BlueLibs: Constitutional Review on Maori Seats Only

Posted 9 March, 2010 - 13:20 by LJ Holden
The classical liberal advisory group of the National Party, BlueLibs, reports on this year's Constitutional Review:
The current idea is that it will consider the future of the Māori seats.

Prince Charles "could be denied the role of Head of the Commonwealth"

Posted 9 March, 2010 - 12:49 by LJ Holden
The Telegraph reports that Prince Charles could be "denied" the position of Head of the Commonwealth.

March 8th

Matt McCarten: "Mrs Windsor wouldn't miss our outpost colony"

Posted 7 March, 2010 - 11:14 by LJ Holden
Matt McCarten writes in the Herald on Sunday on Keith Locke's Head of State Referenda Bill:

When will we stop pretending we are a South Pacific outpost of the Windsor family who reside in London? Betty Windsor is the Queen of England.

March 6th

Twilight of the monarchist elites

Posted 6 March, 2010 - 09:37 by LJ Holden
David Flint of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy takes aim at Sir Robert Jones' support for a republic, making the predictable arguments against his status as an "elite", his knighthood and Sir Bob's view that New Zealand should change its name.

Canterbury University Debate Update - 11th March

Posted 5 March, 2010 - 22:09 by LJ Holden
It's just under a week until the first debate at Canterbury University. The debate will now be held in law lecture theatre 108 in the law building - see the event page for a map.

So far, Canterbury law lecturer David Round and UCSA President Nick McDonnell are confirmed for the negating (i.e. monarchist) side.

March 3rd

Republic Debate Goes Public

MEDIA RELEASE: 2 March 2010

University debating societies up and down the country are holding debates with the Republican Movement in March, taking Keith Locke's Head of State Referenda Bill to the public.

March 2nd

A challenge to Monarchy New Zealand

Posted 1 March, 2010 - 20:39 by LJ Holden
Monarchy New Zealand says the Head of State Referenda Bill is:
"A silly idea, put forward in a silly way, by a man with too much time and taxpayer money on his hands."
At least they deigned to comment on the first piece of legislation to directly challenge the monarchy's hegemony. Of course, there's nothing wrong with a bit of celebration on their part that the Bill may be voted down - however, we do wonder what they mean by "put forward in a silly way". Our challenge to the monarchists is to explain how they'd put the question of a republic to the New Zealand people - irrespective of the fact they think it's a "silly" idea, or that it might cost the taxpayer one tenth of the price of the Royal tour...

Kiwiblog: National should allow conscience vote

Posted 1 March, 2010 - 16:05 by LJ Holden
David Farrar takes aim at John Key's decision not to support the Head of State Referenda Bill, arguing that because there are both republicans and monarchists within National and Labour, the sensible course of action is to allow a conscience vote.

Dunne: Nats need public say on next Governor-General

Posted 1 March, 2010 - 16:03 by LJ Holden
Peter Dunne takes aim at John Key's decision not to support the Head of State Referenda Bill:
Mr Dunne said National’s decision is doubly disappointing given a new Governor-General has to be chosen next year.

March 1st

Govt Will Oppose Republican Bill, Key Says

Posted 1 March, 2010 - 09:41 by LJ Holden
John Key has stated the Government will oppose Keith Locke's Head of State Referenda Bill. There's no surprises there - we've known for a while the National Party's caucus voted against supporting the Bill through its first reading. That doesn't mean there isn't support within National for a republic - just that there isn't enough yet. This isn't the end of Keith's Bill either.

UPDATE: Keith Locke has remarked to the NZPA:

Mr Locke told NZPA he understood Mr Key's view was that New Zealand would one day be a republic but that it would not be for a while.

"It is disappointing that if by that statement he means that he's opposed to it passing the first reading," he said.

"I'd really welcome him supporting the bill going through the first reading, have a proper discussion at the select committee and then, if he wishes to oppose it at the third reading, well fair enough, that's his decision."

Mr Locke was confident National would allow its MPs to cast a conscience vote and, on that basis, he believed it would progress to select committee stage.

"I don't accept his (Mr Key's) position `we're' opposed because there are some National members who support the bill and, at the end of the day, I'm sure they will vote the way they think," he said.

February 2010

IN THIS EDITION: New Zealanders Get Behind  Head of State Bill; PM Opposes Referendum; Public Debates in March; 2011: the Irish elect a president, John Key appoints a Gov-General; New Green MP critical of oaths; Majority back flag change; The Listener's embarrassing colonial cringe; Opinion: a charter of rights and a republic; Republican Movement News.

This edition is presented in PDF format.

February 28th

New Zealanders Get Behind Head of State Bill

MEDIA RELEASE: 28 February 2010

"The broad range of supporters of Keith Locke's Head of State Referenda Bill in today's Sunday Star-Times shows growing republican sentiment in New Zealand" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

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