MEDIA RELEASE: 2 July 2008

"Nominate your candidate for New Zealand's first elected head of State - the President of New Zealand is now online!"

MEDIA RELEASE 23 May 2008

"The 2008 Budget has revealed the true cost to the taxpayer of the Queen's representative" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

The New Zealand taxpayer now spends $10.95m per year on the office of Governor-General. By way of contrast, the 2008 Irish budget shows the President of Ireland costs a mere $6.7m per year. The Budget also shows the government plans to spend $46.6m on fixing and upgrading Government House in Wellington.

"If we are to spend this kind of money on a historic house, it should be for the home of our democratically-elected head of state - not accommodation for a fly-by-night ribbon-cutting emissary of overseas royalty" continued Mr Holden.

MEDIA RELEASE 21 April 2008

"A poll commissioned by the Republican Movement and published on Queen Elizabeth's 82nd birthday shows New Zealanders are increasingly looking to the future as a republic - a challenge New Zealand's political leaders should take up" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

41% of those surveyed in the poll stated they wanted New Zealand to become a republic, and did not want Prince Charles to become New Zealand's head of state when the Queen's reign ends. 43% continue to support the status quo, with 15% stating they do not know either way.

"These results shows the importance of addressing the growing public mood for change. A large number of voting New Zealanders - about 1.4 million - want our country to become a republic either now or when the Queen's reign ends" continued Mr Holden.

MEDIA RELEASE: 20 February 2008

"Peter Dunne's call today for binding constitutional referendums and formal consideration of whether New Zealand should become a republic deserves the government's support" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

Speaking at the Hutt Rotary Club today, the United Future leader said there should be binding referendums on constitutional issues, such as a republic and the future of MMP.

"The Republican Movement has always supported any process which involves the New Zealand people getting involved in determining the constitutional future of their country" concluded Mr Holden.

MEDIA RELEASE: 5 February 2008

"It's time New Zealand became a republic - which would bring the Treaty of Waitangi home", said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand.

A concern many New Zealanders have in the republic debate is that a republic means nullifying the Treaty. Legal experts agree that a New Zealand republic would not alter the status of the Treaty of Waitangi in any way. However, the symbolic relevance of New Zealand's head of state does matter to the Treaty.

"Our current head of state - who is seen as a party to the Treaty - has not been able to attend Waitangi Day at Waitangi for nearly two decades. Not that we could blame Her Majesty - Her Majesty is head of state of Britain first and foremost - but it makes it very difficult to be a symbol of unity" said Mr Holden.

MEDIA RELEASE: 18 January 2008

"The Republican Movement is disappointed it appears no-one from the British Royal Family is attending Sir Edmund Hillary's state funeral" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman quoted by One News has stated it is unlikely anyone from the Royal Family will attend. The report also indicated that the Governor-General, Anand Satyanand, will be representing the Queen at the state ceremony.

"Since Sir Edmund Hillary was personally awarded Knight of the Garter by the Queen, this decision is very disappointing. This national day of mourning is the sort of occasion where the presence of New Zealand's head of state would be appropriate. The absence of the Royal Family shows plainly they are not able to do the job for New Zealand" said Mr Holden.

MEDIA RELEASE: 15 January 2008

"The Republican Movement welcomes former Prime Minister Mike Moore's call for a constitutional convention" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The former Prime Minister wrote today in the New Zealand Herald that "Constitutional change ought not to be rushed or hurried, and should only be entered into after deliberate, detailed and sober consideration, consultation and reflection". Any proposed constitutional convention should look at all the republic options.

"Since the republic debate began, republicans have consistently called for discussion about New Zealand's constitutional future, how we could improve our democracy and create a head of state of our own. We are pleased to see that Mr Moore is now involved in this discussion" continued Mr Holden.

MEDIA RELEASE: 20 December 2007

Tomorrow, Queen Elizabeth II becomes the oldest British monarch in history, surpassing Queen Victoria's age of 81 years, 8 months. "Regardless of how we feel about the Queen's merits it is only a matter of time before we are forced to accept Prince Charles as our head of state. The changeover could happen tomorrow. The Republican Movement believes that unless we start moving towards a republic now, we have to accept that reality" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand.

MEDIA RELEASE: 6 December 2007

"The petition to the Governor-General to refuse Royal assent to the Electoral Finance Bill is symbolic only" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand. "The Republican Movement believes that the move to a republic in New Zealand should be accompanied by a serious look at the sort of checks and balances other parliamentary republics have."

"Most constitutional lawyers agree that the Governor-General has no scope to exercise a refusal of Royal assent to a Bill of parliament. This is because their hands are tied by constitutional convention, and the fact that the Prime Minister can advise the Queen to remove Her Majesty's representative from office immediately" continued Mr Holden.

MEDIA RELEASE: 28 November 2007

"The Republican Movement is not surprised by the news that Prime Minister Helen Clark was spotted texting during the Queen's opening address to CHOGM" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand. "While we respect the Queen's position as Head of the Commonwealth, Helen Clark is clearly half-hearted in her statements on the monarchy. The Prime Minister should show leadership on the issue, as her fellow social democrat leaders around the Commonwealth are" said Mr Holden.

The majority of Commonwealth members are republics, and republican sentiment is on the increase in Commonwealth member states where the Queen is still head of state.

"On Monday, Barbados' Deputy Prime Minister announced the Labour government will have a republic referendum in August 2008" continued Mr Holden.