December 31st
Submitted by Savage on 31 December, 2011 - 09:56
Government House has a youtube channel and is broadcasting the Governor-General's New Year address - watch it online. The New Year's Honours List has also been announced.
Submitted by LJ Holden on 30 December, 2011 - 15:31
Yesterday marked five years since I was elected chair of the Republican Movement, so this yearly review has added significance to myself. It's incredible to think that five years have passed. I did expect that this would be a long-haul, and there's still some way to go yet. A New Zealand republic is an ongoing, long-term project for which there are no short cuts. This of course is crazy as it's such a simple, straightforward change with demonstrable benefits. It's become clear to me over these last five years that the general public are largely apathetic to who their head of state is. This apathy has been generated by the monarchy's irrelevance. This is both a threat to the monarchy and a New Zealand republic. It means we still have our work cut out for us to convince the public.
We're told that this year, 2011, was a major set back to a New Zealand republic. I don't see this as anything more than a narrative the media has taken on - it's an "interesting aside" rather than being based on fact. The polling undertaken in 2011 on the issue doesn't back the contention. Support for a New Zealand republic remains around 33 - 40% of the public. Our own polling shows a small rise in support for the monarchy, within the margin of error. Critically, this rise was due to more of the "base" of the monarchy's supporters - i.e. women over the age of 55 - supporting the monarchy. Maori support for a New Zealand republic has actually increased.
Moreover, the wedding didn't get rid of the fundamental drivers of a New Zealand republic. They are not, as our opponents might like to think, anything to do with the Royals. Fundamentally the Royals lack of relevance - something they keep trying to address - is irreversible. Demographic and social trends have deeply undermined the monarchy in New Zealand to the point that you're more likely to find news reports on the monarchy in the celebrity sections of newspapers and magazines than in serious discourse. The institution must now compete for column space with Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian.
Anyway, here's the run-through of what the Republican Movement did this year:
December 27th
Submitted by LJ Holden on 26 December, 2011 - 16:29
Radio Waatea News reports Winston Peters claiming that more Maori support the monarchy than a New Zealand republic:
December 26th
Submitted by LJ Holden on 25 December, 2011 - 17:45
Susan Devoy writes in The Bay of Plenty Times:
December 22nd
Submitted by Savage on 22 December, 2011 - 07:21
The British Monarchy are political celebrities and their PR people are making sure everyone knows what they are doing for Christmas this year. There is still a recession on so they have played up how homely and down to earth they all are. "It's been decided that the group will give each other low-key but fun gifts this year, in part due to the on-going global financial crisis."
Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 21 December, 2011 - 13:48
In my first post on the issue, I wrote about how I thought us supporters of a NZ republic can best talk about republicanism with our friends and family.
December 21st
Submitted by LJ Holden on 20 December, 2011 - 20:40
Václav Havel, leader of the Velvet Revolution, 1936 - 2011The late former president of Czech Republic, Václav Havel, often described the Soviet system in Czechoslovakia as "Absurdistan" - a country where absurdity was the norm.
December 19th
Submitted by LJ Holden on 18 December, 2011 - 21:09
The head of the working group on changing the monarchy's sexist and discriminatory succession law is New Zealand's Rebecca Kitteridge, the Cabinet Secretary and Clerk of the Executive Council.
December 17th
Submitted by LJ Holden on 17 December, 2011 - 08:16
A New Zealand republic is not anti-British. Greg Edwards, a Brit and a founding member of the Republican Movement, explains why.
December 16th
Submitted by LJ Holden on 15 December, 2011 - 21:07
The Republican Movement's executive held its monthly teleconference tonight. Congratulations to Mike Wilkinson who was appointed as our Secretary and Reon Hogg who was appointed as our Membership officer.
December 15th
Submitted by Savage on 15 December, 2011 - 09:51
Our aging Monarch is staying at home for the 60th Jubilee celebrations and sending her sons and grandsons around the world to visit her far flung realms. Charles is visiting the four largest realms including New Zealand. You can read more at the NZ Herald website.
Submitted by LJ Holden on 14 December, 2011 - 23:05
The Governor-General appointed a new government today. By doing so he used one of his "reserve powers" - the ability to appoint the Prime Minister and Cabinet (technically the Executive Council) without anyone "advising" him to do so. All on his own, he re-appointed Prime Minister John Key.
Submitted by Savage on 14 December, 2011 - 19:13
Constitutional problems are reaching crisis point in Papua New Guinea and armed Police are guarding parliament and the supreme court. Two men are now claiming they are the country's Prime Minister. One has the support of the Supreme court. The other the support of parliament.
December 12th
Submitted by LJ Holden on 11 December, 2011 - 16:38
The Maori Party has signed a new agreement with the National Party. The Constitutional Review features. The reporting back date for the constitutional advisory committee is now September 2013.
December 10th
Submitted by LJ Holden on 10 December, 2011 - 09:06
During the last term of Parliament, a number of MPs challenged the oath they are required to swear in order to take their seat. Most replaced references to the Queen with the Treaty of Waitangi, others referred to the people of New Zealand - the ones who actually elected them.
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